Deccan Chronicle 19.01.2010

Chennai to decentralise solid waste management

Jan. 18: Though a recent study by the Centre for Development Finance (CDF) portrays Tamil Nadu as one of the worst affected states in the country by solid waste, Perungudi and Kodungaiyur, the two major waste dumping areas in the Chennai suburb, will soon get relief as the pollution control board (PCB) has taken measures to implement a decentralised solid waste management system in the city.

According to the CDF study, the state generates 226 kg solid waste per person a year, which is a very high quantity, compared to other states with similar population and same gross domestic market.

“Waste management is poor in the state. A lot has to be done in the area of hazardous waste management,” said Rupanwita Dash, senior researcher, CDF.

“Learning from the failures of centralised solid waste management, the pollution control board and civic bodies will soon come up with a decentralised waste management technology which is to be implemented with the help of major solid waste generators in the city, including hospitals and leading restaurant chains,” said Dr K. Karthikeyan, district environment engineer, PCB.

According to official data, around 3,600 tonnes of waste being generated per day in the city and waste from south and north Chennai are partly disposed of at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur.

“Waste items that contain mainly food and other biodegradable wastes, which are highly infectious and could cause air-borne diseases, will soon be segregated in a decentralised way and treated in waste converters, a technology which is being popularised in the city with the initiative of the Tamil Nadu pollution control board,” added Mr Karthikeyan.