Latest news with #FederationofNorthChennaiResidentsWelfareAssociation
New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
‘Drop WTE plant, go for zero-waste initiatives'
CHENNAI: The Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Association (FNCRWA) submitted a petition to Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Mayor R Priya on Friday demanding the withdrawal of the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant in Kodungaiyur. FNCRWA noted that Kerala's model of decentralised waste management offers a safer alternative and urged GCC to move towards zero-waste initiatives instead of WTE plants. The association has instead proposed an ecological park, research libraries, and other public infrastructure on 350 acres, which includes the 75-acre site proposed for WTE plant and 275 acres of Kodungaiyur dumpyard to be reclaimed through biomining. The petition follows a human chain protest held by FNCRWA on May 25. In response to the protest, the GCC assured that the WTE plant would only proceed after public consultation and environmental clearance, claiming it would adopt scientific methods to avoid groundwater infiltration. However, it is also cited that WTE plants in India, including in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pimpri Chinchwad, are running successfully. While the petition acknowledged GCC's assurance on monitoring, it stated that similar promises were made elsewhere, only to be broken after operations. Plants in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pimpri-Chinchwad have proven to be bitter lessons. FNCRWA pointed to an NGT report that highlighted leachate from the Jawahar Nagar WTE plant contaminating 18 lakes in Hyderabad and polluting the groundwater. Quoting CSIR-NEERI findings, the petition warned of cancer risks from incinerator emissions. They also criticised comparisons to Tokyo and Paris, noting that North Chennai's population density is four times that of Tokyo, and the area is already burdened with industrial pollution. They also highlighted that the proposed site for WTE is a wetland and vital flood catchment zone, home to 54 bird species, making it unsuitable for a WTE plant under environmental law. 'We seek development, not destruction,' the petition read. 'We are not against development projects by the GCC, but projects that destroy natural resources and public health should not be implemented,' it added.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Kodungaiyur locals: Hyderabad waste-to-energy plant environmental disaster
CHENNAI: Weeks after Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) officials visited the waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, ahead of implementing a similar facility in Kodungaiyur, a separate delegation comprising members of the Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Association (FNCRWA), GCC Councillor R Jayaraman and Chennai CFA and CAG, visited areas affected by the Hyderabad plant near Jawahar Nagar and reported alarming health and environmental consequences. The delegation found that residents of marginalised communities in Karmika Nagar, YSR Nagar, Gabbilalpet, Shanti Nagar, and nearby areas suffered from health issues such as respiratory ailments, skin diseases, elephantiasis, infertility and eye problems. Residents living even 1 km from the plant complained of nauseating odour, with families apparently spending over Rs 5,000 a month on treatment for pollution-related illnesses. 'Children have stopped playing outside. Their right to a healthy life has been stolen,' said Prasanth J from Chennai Climate Action Group. He added that while GCC officials visit waste-to-energy plants in other states, they are overlooking the crucial step of engaging with affected residents to understand real impact.
