CHENNAI: The 25-year-old garbage ‘hillock’ in Athipattu will soon disappear from sight, if the Chennai Corporation adopts the two proposals mooted by officials from the Ambattur zone.
A proposal has been sent to senior officials of the Corporation to consider biomining and capping, two latest processes adopted in developed countries to manage garbage generation in their cities.
According to S Rajendran, executive engineer of Ambattur Zone, these measures will bring relief to residents in and around the Athipattu garbage dumpyard, who have been braving the stench, smoke and also health hazards for a long time.
Bio-mining is a process where the composed garbage will be dug and sieved to separate plastic, iron, etc. “By doing this, the civic body can retrieve the five acres of land, which can be utilised for some other purpose. However, it will cost `20 crore to commission this,” said Rajendran.
Capping is a different process where the top layer of garbage is removed and the rest of the hillock covered with high-density Polyethylene (HDPE) that would prevent leachate formation. On top of the HDPE, alluvial soil would be filled to a height of about two feet, on which fibrous plants will be grown. “If implemented properly, this hillock can even be turned into a tourist spot,” the official added.
Rajendran said he would discuss these proposals with Joss Brooks, a noted environmental consultant who has worked with the Chennai Corporation on the design of Adyar Poonga. Brooks will visit the site this month to offer suggestions, added Rajendran.
Bringing much relief to the local residents, the garbage that was dumped from 15 divisions had been sent to bigger dumpyards, preventing further accumulation of waste.
As part of ‘integrated solid waste management’ that is slated to take off soon, compost pits have already been created.