Residents have demanded that the State government take measures to shelve the waste-to-energy plant in Kodungaiyur to resolve the civic issues faced by residents of Perambur, the constituency of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

T.K. Shanmugham, president of the Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Associations, said residents have decided to meet the Chief Minister to explain the civic issues faced by residents in Perambur constituency because of the Kodungaiyur dumpyard. “We demand the State government to take measures to close the dumpyard in Kodungaiyur. The waste-to-energy project is part of the DMK manifesto. Residents have opposed the waste-to-energy project because the project is likely to affect public health in north Chennai,” said Mr.Shanmugham.

“During the election campaign, residents were opposing the waste-to-energy plant in Kodungaiyur. We have already conveyed the message to Minister K.G. Arunraj about the demand of residents to shelve the project. Before the Assembly elections the residents organised a human chain against the waste-to-energy plant,” he said.

A. Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents’ Welfare Associations, said residents in south Chennai have also demanded that the government close the Perungudi dumpyard and protect the Ramsar site of Pallikaranai marshland. “A large number of residential buildings, IT companies, schools, colleges and hospitals are located near the Perungudi dumpyard. The State government should ask the Chennai Corporation to close the Perungudi dumpyard after completing biomining. The marshland should be restored to its original condition,” said Mr. Francis.

K. Pandurangan, vice-president of Thoraipakkam Anand Nagar Vinayaga Nagar Owners’ Welfare Association said: “The bad smell from the Perungudi dumpyard is intense. The ground water is polluted. Residents report deterioration of public health. The GCC should stop dumping of waste and stop all activities of solid waste management,” he said.