DMK Urged To Scrap Kodungaiyur WTE Plant Plan

10 Mar 2026 CW Team

The federation urged a comprehensive socio-economic study with public consultation and an assessment of high-level pollution in the industrial belts of Manali, Ennore and Thiruvottiyur. It called for a special ecological plan to minimise human impact on sensitive ecosystems after noting that soil conditions in those areas had become unsuitable for additional red listed industries. The submission linked the proposed plant to wider public health and environmental governance issues that require transparent mitigation measures.

On the Kodungaiyur landfill the federation urged zero-waste initiatives and decentralised waste management, including the reopening of 168 of 190 micro composting centres and 88 of 137 material recovery facilities across Chennai. It also sought cleaning and ecological restoration of the Buckingham Canal and the Cooum river, improved stormwater drains to prevent sewage contamination of drinking water, and investment in public services such as educational institutions and hospitals. The representation requested housing pattas aligned with urban growth, promotion of MSME hubs in North Chennai and a multi-storey complex to support small traders and local livelihoods.

The federation said the petition had also been submitted online to the AIADMK following discussions with former minister D Jayakumar and that outreach had been pursued across political lines. The association indicated an intention to meet the DMK parliamentary party leader and chair of the manifesto committee but reported that the delegation was redirected to RS Bharathi when she was unavailable. The group urged political leaders to adopt the proposed measures as manifesto commitments and to ensure independent review and public accountability before advancing any major waste infrastructure project.

The Federation of North Chennai Residential Welfare Associations met the DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi and submitted a formal representation urging the withdrawal of the plan to establish a waste-to-energy plant at Kodungaiyur. The association framed its demand as part of a call for sustainable, equitable and eco-sensitive development in North Chennai to be reflected in the party manifesto. The representation sought inclusive public participation in decision making and prioritised local concerns ahead of any project approval. The federation urged a comprehensive socio-economic study with public consultation and an assessment of high-level pollution in the industrial belts of Manali, Ennore and Thiruvottiyur. It called for a special ecological plan to minimise human impact on sensitive ecosystems after noting that soil conditions in those areas had become unsuitable for additional red listed industries. The submission linked the proposed plant to wider public health and environmental governance issues that require transparent mitigation measures. On the Kodungaiyur landfill the federation urged zero-waste initiatives and decentralised waste management, including the reopening of 168 of 190 micro composting centres and 88 of 137 material recovery facilities across Chennai. It also sought cleaning and ecological restoration of the Buckingham Canal and the Cooum river, improved stormwater drains to prevent sewage contamination of drinking water, and investment in public services such as educational institutions and hospitals. The representation requested housing pattas aligned with urban growth, promotion of MSME hubs in North Chennai and a multi-storey complex to support small traders and local livelihoods. The federation said the petition had also been submitted online to the AIADMK following discussions with former minister D Jayakumar and that outreach had been pursued across political lines. The association indicated an intention to meet the DMK parliamentary party leader and chair of the manifesto committee but reported that the delegation was redirected to RS Bharathi when she was unavailable. The group urged political leaders to adopt the proposed measures as manifesto commitments and to ensure independent review and public accountability before advancing any major waste infrastructure project.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..