Officials from Chennai, other parts of T.N. to visit Europe to study waste management techniques in May

The World Bank facilitates Chennai officials' visit to European cities to study modern waste management practices for implementation in Chennai.

The World Bank (WB) will facilitate the visit of engineers and senior officials from Chennai and other parts of the State to study clean technologies, modern landfills, and best practices in European cities to improve waste management. This is expected to be part of the Chennai City Partnership-Sustainable Urban Services Programme.

In May, engineers and senior officials are likely to visit cities, such as Barcelona, to study modern waste management practices. Such cities have reportedly implemented waste management projects adopting clean technologies near residential areas.

Owing to protests by residents against waste processing in Perungudi and to shift the dump yard at Pallikaranai marshland, officials are expected to study clean technologies adopted in such cities that are implemented close to high-income areas. After this, the Tamil Nadu government is likely to take a final decision on implementing these clean technologies in cities such as Chennai.

A few political parties have already opposed waste incineration projects in the city. A few months ago, PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss opposed the waste incineration plant proposed by the Greater Chennai Corporation in Perungudi to protect the Pallikaranai marshland. The GCC is yet to conduct a public consultation meeting for this project. The visit to the European cities is expected to facilitate better understanding of the civic issues before a final decision on the Perungudi incinerator plant is made.

A. Francis, president, Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents’ Welfare Associations, said the residents were determined to oppose the waste incinerator projects in Perungudi. “We want the GCC to close the Perungudi dump yard, implement waste management projects in another locality away from residential areas and save the Pallikaranai marshland. It is a Ramsar site. The dump yard inside the marshland has already polluted groundwater in a 5-km radius and affected biodiversity,” he said.

Residents have been protesting against the dump yard since 2004, demanding the restoration of the marshland to improve flood mitigation, protect biodiversity, and resolve civic issues on public health.