If the integrated solid waste management plant is to come up at Kuthambakkam, it is not only the villagers who are going to be affected. In fact the most affected would be the citizens of Chennai as their very drinking water's quality is now in question. When the waste treatment is done in this proposed site, it is imminent that the ground water, runoff water and the land will get polluted badly. In turn it will pollute the waters and the lives of Chembarambakkam Lake. You can imagine the plight of the Chennai people then.

It is evident  from the response to an RTI (Right to Information) query that an expert committee from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board [TNPCB] has already inspected and stated the proposed site at Kuthambakkam not suitable for the solid waste management facility, in lieu of it being close to habitations and being a catchment area of Chembarambakkam Lake. It is most likely that the whole of Chennai citizens will be drinking polluted and highly contaminated water very soon if the plan does not get dropped, for Chembarambakkam lake is main water resource for Chennai. But TNPCB has given NOC (No Objection Certificate) even after its environmental expert assessment committee has turned down the proposal.

Some hard facts about Chembarambakkam lake in the context of the proposed site  --- 

• Chennai receives more than 575 Million Litres of drinking water per day from Chembarambakkam lake.
• Water from more than 31 lakes gets collected in the proposed area.
• 455 tonnes of solid waste is to be transported to the top of Chembarambakkam for processing.
• More than 6 habitations and more than 1500 familes live around the site within 0.5 Kms.
• The damage, if done, will be irrevocable, warn experts including Mrs. Almitra Patel from the Supreme Court Bench.

To know more about the facts on Chembarambakkam lake, click here.