While Industrial Waste Management Association (IWMA), Chennai, has made known its intention to secure environment clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for establishment of Common Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF) at the SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board sources said it has not received any application from anybody so far for the purpose.
A letter from IWMA to the Member Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, on April 15, 2015, describes submission of Environment Impact Assessment report for the proposed CHWTSDF at Plot KK5, KK6, and KK7 (P) based on TOR (Terms of Reference) received from SEIAA on January 10, 2014.
Since the Tamil Nadu SEIAA has been dissolved and is in the process of setting up a new committee, the IWMA has submitted the EIA report for obtaining early environment clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.
The proposed project involves landfill and Alternative Fuel and Raw material Facility (AFRF) operations over 25 acres catering to the needs of hazardous waste disposal system from surrounding industries.
Citing a letter from SEIAA and the MoEF notification, the IWMA has stated in its communication that the public hearing for the proposed CHWTSDF is exempted.
Chennimalai-based Tamil Nadu Sutrusoozhal Padukappu Iyakkam has questioned this contention of the IWMA, referring to an earlier public hearing on the issue conducted on July 20, 2010, when the then District Collector Sudalaikannan decided to heed to the people's opposition to the project and refused permission. The CHWTSDF operating at Gummudipoondi has caused enormous environmental damage, reflecting in degradation of land, water and air pollution leading to dreaded diseases such as cancer, kidney problem, wheezing trouble and other complications among the people.
Law and order
Any effort to bring the facility to SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, Perundurai, could lead to law and order problems, Mukilan, Coordinator, Tamil Nadu Sutrusoozhal Iyakkam, cautioned in his representation to the district administration.
