The Times of India        27.01.2011

CHENNAI: Mayor M Subramanian will call on senior officials of the Union ministry of environment and forests in the first week of February to speed up clearance for the Kodungaiyur integrated solid waste management project. The project has been awaiting the ministry's nod since July last year when a panel under the ministry gave its clearance.

In a global tender in 2009, the Chennai Corporation identified Bangalore-based Terra Firma Private Limited to execute the project in Kodungaiyur. The Rs 31-crore project includes conversion of waste into manure and fuel, brick manufacturing from debris, recycling of plastic and scientific landfill.

The Union ministry's expert appraisal committee had cleared the project in July last year subject to proper disposal of gas generated from the site, collection and treatment of leachate, necessary clearance from the ground water authority and periodical monitoring of groundwater. "For months now, senior officials of the corporation have been frequenting the ministry, but nothing has moved" Subramanian told TOI.

The dumping grounds at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur are bursting at their seams as the city generates 3,700 tonnes of grabage every day.

Terra Firma, a Bangalore-based company, won the 20-year contract for the Kodungaiyur solid waste management plant under design-build-operate-maintain-transfer basis. The local body will get a royalty of Rs 41.85 per tonne of waste treated by the company and get a hike of 5% every year.

The appraisal committee has recommended the fulfilment of various provisions of the Hazardous Wastes (Managing, Handling and Trans-boundary movement) Rules, 2008. The project aims at utilising 90% of organic waste.

A similar project at Perungudi could not be taken up by the corporation as the National Green Tribunal is yet to begin its hearing on a case filed by the Save Pallikaranai Marshland Forum questioning the feasibility of the project.