NGT Directs Chennai Corporation to Collect Wet and Dry Waste on Different Days

The Southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to consider collecting wet waste and dry waste on separate days to facilitate segregation at the source. The interim directive aims to address critical waste management challenges in Chennai, particularly at the Kodungaiyur, Perungudi, and Pallikaranai dump yards.

The tribunal bench, which comprises judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Prashant Gargava, issued the order during a suo motu proceeding. The NGT had initiated the case in response to a news report concerning bulk waste disposal issues within the city.

According to the tribunal, the civic body must take stronger steps to ensure residents and waste collectors separate their garbage. The bench warned that unless the GCC adopts and strictly enforces source segregation measures, the existing challenges in managing the city's waste are likely to continue.

In addition to daily waste collection methods, the NGT raised serious questions regarding the disposal of legacy waste. The tribunal pointed out that the GCC has failed to specify a clear time frame for completing the biomining process of millions of tonnes of accumulated garbage.

Currently, there are 66.52 lakh tonnes of legacy waste lying at the Kodungaiyur dump yard. Meanwhile, the Perungudi dump yard holds another 29.28 lakh tonnes of legacy waste. The timeline for clearing these massive sites remains unconfirmed by the municipal corporation.

During the hearing, the tribunal was informed that a collaborative effort is underway to resolve these issues. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the GCC have proposed to convene a joint meeting on June 29.

At this upcoming meeting, officials from both the TNPCB and the GCC intend to formulate a comprehensive action plan. This plan will specifically address the legacy waste currently lying at the Perungudi, Pallikaranai, and Kodungaiyur dump yards, while also establishing protocols for managing the newly segregated waste being generated daily across the city.