The Hindu  13.10.2010

“Kuthambakkam facility still under consideration”

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The integrated solid waste management facility proposed at Kuthambakkam near Poonamallee is still under the consideration of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for approval.

In response to an item “Review decision on solid waste management facility at Kuthambakkam” in these columns on October 12, 2010, Ambattur Municipality Commissioner Ashish Kumar said “The seminar is trying to create an adverse emotional opinion among the public…. Nothing would be done by one part of Chennai Metropolitan Area to undermine the natural sources of another part.”

He said a total of 971 persons, including residents of Kuthambakkam and neighbouring villages, participated in a public hearing on the project and 665 petitions were received.

Essential concepts for solid waste management, including source segregation, waste reduction, prevention of groundwater pollution, were incorporated in the practices and design of the project. Besides stormwater drain network, the facility would have leachate collection network and leachate treatment plant. It would have a landfill, which will have five layers of impervious materials, of internationally accepted design. There would not be any seepage of leachate or pollution to ground water or Chembarambakkam lake.

He also denied the allegations made at the seminar that officials did not visit the site. “Top officials, including the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary and Director of Municipal Administration have visited the site on different occasions to take stock of the situation,” Mr.Ashish Kumar said.

“The organisers (of the seminar) did not inform or invite the concerned municipalities or the representative of Municipal Administration Department,” he said.