Coimbatore Residents Intensify Opposition to Waste-to-Energy Plant Proposal
The Kurichi-Vellalore Pollution Prevention Action Committee has formally appealed to the chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), urging immediate rejection of the Coimbatore municipal corporation's proposal to establish a waste-to-energy plant at the Vellalore dump yard. This strong objection highlights growing community concerns over escalating environmental hazards and public health risks associated with the existing landfill site.
Severe Environmental Degradation Documented
In a detailed objection letter addressed to the TNPCB chairman, committee secretary K S Mohan outlined the extensive environmental damage already caused by the Vellalore dump yard. He emphasized that the facility has led to critical issues including severe air pollution, significant groundwater contamination, and unbearable odours affecting residents within a radius exceeding 10 kilometers. Mohan stressed that despite binding judicial directives aimed at remediation, the environmental situation continues to deteriorate alarmingly.
Legal and Procedural Violations Cited
According to the committee's representation, the proposal to construct a waste-to-energy plant at the same location is both premature and illegal. Mohan explicitly stated that this move constitutes a direct violation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. He further explained to The Times of India that mandatory preconditions have not been met, particularly the complete clearance of legacy waste through bio-mining processes, which is required before any new project can be initiated on the site.
Public Health Risks and Ineffective Model
The committee argues that waste-to-energy plants are not a successful model for sustainable waste management and pose severe public health dangers. Mohan warned that such facilities emit toxic pollutants, including dioxins and furans, which could endanger hundreds of thousands of local residents. The objection letter calls for an immediate halt to all approvals, tenders, and implementation processes related to the proposed plant. Additionally, it demands that TNPCB reject consent to establish, environmental clearance, and all other statutory approvals for the project.
Constitutional Right to a Healthy Environment Invoked
In a significant legal stance, the representation was framed as a protective measure for the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. This constitutional provision encompasses the right to a clean and healthy environment, reinforcing the committee's argument that the proposed plant would infringe upon these basic rights of Coimbatore's citizens.
The committee's vigorous opposition underscores a broader community struggle against environmental negligence and highlights the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions that prioritize public health and ecological integrity over potentially hazardous technological interventions.
