7 months ago
1
A study submitted by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) earlier the confederate seat of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) shows that the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) discarded incinerator successful Manali has been storing incinerator bottommost ash with dangerously precocious levels of dense metals specified arsenic cadmium, chromium, and lead.
Laboratory tests showed that cadmium levels were recovered to scope betwixt 291.6 and 364.5 mg/kg, compared to the harmless bounds of 1.0 mg/kg, indicating an exceedance of astir 364 times. Lead levels were besides highly high, ranging from 349.2 to 436.5 mg/kg, astir 87 times the acceptable standard.
The plant, which incinerates up to 10 tonnes of non-biodegradable discarded each day, was initially issued consent successful 2019 by the TNPCB.
However, during an inspection connected April 2, 2025, TNPCB officials recovered the incinerator inactive but traces of caller activity, including blistery ash, suggested ongoing operations. The facility’s aerial contamination power systems, specifically the venturi and bedewed scrubbers, were recovered successful a dilapidated state, rendering them ineffective successful filtering retired harmful emissions. The TNPCB besides recovered that incinerator ash was stored connected unfastened ground. This toxic ash was reportedly being sent to the Kodungaiyur dump gait for further processing. In airy of these violations, the TNPCB ordered the GCC to cease operations connected April 2, until the works applies for renewal of consent to operate.
A follow-up inspection connected April 7, 2025, confirmed the works remained inactive. However, the TNPCB did not get a response from the GCC regarding the renewal application.
