2 weeks Ago
Chennai: Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, which are touted as the ‘magic solution' to solve the solid waste management crisis in the city, are not all that safe for environment and public health , say activists from some environmental NGOs . "One kg of waste can produce 5,500 litres of toxic gases and 300 grams of harmful fly ash, apart from liquid leachate," said D K Chythenyen from the Centre for Financial Accountability, a Delhi-based NGO, on Saturday. He was speaking at a seminar in Vyasarpadi.
Greater Chennai Corporation has called tenders to set up a WTE plant near Kodungaiyur dumpyard. The plant will produce 21 megawatts of electricity a day. The waste will burn in the plant, and the thermal energy will rotate turbines to produce electricity.
While filters and protective mechanisms to prevent fly ash and pollutant emissions have been planned, examples from Delhi and Ghazipur tell otherwise. The pollution control board had fined the WTE plants in Delhi multiple times for violating rules, he said. "The proposed WTE plant would generate carbon emissions equivalent to that generated by 9 lakh cars," said Chythenyen.
WTE affects public health. "In Delhi, studies tell that the human lifespan has reduced by at least 12 years due to poor AQI," said Afroz Khan from Citizen consumer and civic Action Group..
