CHENNAI | Nov 04, 2016: The process to shut the city's landfills could stretch into the second half of 2017 as the city corporation awaits the submission of a detailed project report (DPR) which would outline the way forward for waste management in Chennai.
The need to explore an alternative to dumping at landfills arose due to solid waste mismanagement by the corporation and a lack of awareness about segregation among the public. At present, the landfills at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi take in a combined 6,000 tonnes of garbage generated by Chennaiites on a daily basis.
According to officials, the DPR, which is being prepared by consultancy firm IPE Global Ltd, is expected by end of December. "The DPR will include a study on the quality, type and amount of garbage at the landfill. On its basis, the DPR will suggest the best possible method to close (landfill)," said a senior official.
Officials side-batted a TOI question on a timeframe on initiating the shutting down process. They said they were 'optimistic'. "Administrative sanction (from the state government) could be obtained in under 30 days. Besides, the Madras high court is keeping a watch on how the project is moving," an official said.
Spread over 250 acres, both landfills should have been shut down by 2014, which the corporation was on track to achieve if not for the setback it encountered in setting up waste processing plants at Minjur and Kuthambakkam. It was then decided to move the project to within the existing landfill sites. Sources said the DPR would suggest capping or bio-mining as options to close the landfills. Capping involves covering the landfill with several layers of soil. Bio-mining would help the local body reclaim land after clearing out the waste.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)