CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation's resolution on approach road construction inside the Kodungaiyur dumpyard has triggered renewed opposition to the proposed Integrated Waste-to-Energy Plant (IWEP), with the Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Association (FNCRWA) submitting a petition to Chief Minister MK Stalin +seeking an immediate halt to the project.
The resolution, adopted at the GCC council meeting on January 30, sanctioned Rs 10.69 crore for road works. Of this, Rs 3.74 crore has been allocated for a cement concrete access road leading to the IWEP site, while Rs 6.95 crore has been sanctioned for another cement concrete road near the B-canal, inside the dumpyard.
In its representation, the federation alleged that the civic body was proceeding with infrastructure works connected to the IWEP despite ongoing public objections and unresolved health and environmental concerns in North Chennai. Residents contended that the road works effectively advance the project on the ground, even as opposition to the plant remains.
"What this resolution means is that the government intends to pursue the project. If it's done, it will undo the efforts made through bio-mining and other infrastructure developments that are happening in North Chennai," said TK Shanmugam, chief coordinator of FNCRWA.
Citing concerns over air quality and long-term public health impacts, the association reiterated its opposition to the incineration-based waste processing model proposed under the IWEP. It urged the state government to consider an alternative decentralised waste management framework under what it termed the "Green Chennai Initiative".