Councillors oppose waste-to-energy project

The proposed waste-to-energy (WtE) project at the Vellalore dump yard faced opposition from councillors at the Coimbatore Corporation Council meeting at Victoria Town Hall on
Friday.
The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department has proposed the project as a cluster facility to process 1,200 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day from Coimbatore and Tiruppur Corporations. The facility is proposed in about 50 acres and will include a WtE plant to generate about 20 MW of power, pre-processing facilities and a scientific landfill. The tender is scheduled to be floated on September 30.
DMK councillor and party floor leader R. Karthikeyan said the proposal had not been discussed with residents in the area. He opposed bringing Tiruppur’s waste to Vellalore, citing the existing waste management problems and pollution in the
area.
Referring to the National Green Tribunal’s observations on the Corporation’s waste management, he said groundwater and air pollution were major concerns and called for decentralised waste management.
AIADMK councillor R. Prabhakaran also opposed the project and questioned whether it would function effectively.
DMK councillor and North Zone chairperson V. Kathirvel said the existing waste management system needed improvement, alleging that waste collection was affected by a shortage of vehicles, manpower and inadequate monitoring of the contractor.
Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said the proposed plant would process fresh waste generated each day and would not add to the existing accumulation at Vellalore. He said the plant would generate electricity and pollution-control measures would be put in place.
However, the councillors continued to oppose the proposal. Mayor K. Ranganayaki assured them that the Corporation would stop the tendering process scheduled for September
30.