A public hearing on the Chennai Corporation's proposal to set up an integrated solid waste management facility at its Kodungaiyur dump yard on Friday saw many participants supporting the project. Those against the proposal wanted the civic body to shift the yard elsewhere.
Of 70 people who spoke at the public hearing, 60 were in favour of the proposal. A press release issued by the Corporation said that about 1,300 people attended the meeting. Of them, 300 gave letters in support of the proposal while 10 opposed it in writing.
Many residents around the dump yard, underscored the need for the integrated solid waste management facility to be implemented in a scientific manner.
Job opportunities
S. Chandran, a resident of Kodungaiyur, said the facility would not only provide solution to the long-pending problem of garbage disposal but also create job opportunities to people in north Chennai.
A. Pandurangan, president of Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar Citizen Welfare Association, suggested that the Corporation implements zone-wise garbage segregation instead of dumping the entire load of garbage in Kodungaiyur.
Some participants raised doubts about the quality of air and groundwater mentioned in the environmental impact assessment study. N.S. Ramachandra Rao, president of Ever Vigilant Citizen Welfare Association, said the air quality in the dumping yard was deteriorating.
?We doubt whether the smoke or dust from the Kodungaiyur site will stop if the project is implemented,? he said.
Among heated arguments made for and against the proposal, a group of people gheraoed the officials, alleging that they did not get an opportunity to voice their views at the meeting.
Mayor M. Subramanian detailed the Corporation's initiatives to improve garbage collection and disposal. Nearly 1,800 metric tonnes of garbage is being dumped at Kodungaiyur every day. Of the 288 acres, about 100 acres would be used for the proposed project.
A park would be developed in the remaining area.
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority has cleared the technology to be used for a similar project in Perungudi dump yard, he said.
Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said the proposal would help in processing garbage received at the Kodungaiyur yard. While organic waste, which constituted 44 per cent of the garbage, could be sold, debris and small metals could be recycled.
About 10-15 per cent of the waste that cannot be recycled would be sent for burning in cement kilns.
