Villagers of Vellakalpatti to protest against proposed waste-to-energy project

The villagers of Vellakalpatti and surrounding villages announced that they will not allow the implementation of the waste-to-energy project in their locality, and are planning to stage protests and pass resolutions in gram sabha meetings against the project.

On September 2, under the Rule 110, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, that a waste-to-energy project will be implemented in Salem Corporation at a cost of ₹291 crore to generate 10 megawatt (MW) of electricity.

Prior to this, on July 29, 2026, in a council meeting held at Salem Corporation, councillors from DMK and AIADMK had already opposed the project and passed a resolution by cancelling the agenda to establish this facility. However, the Corporation and district administration identified 92.49 acres at Vellakalpatti in Jahir Ammapalayam village for the project.

Councillors, led by Salem City Mayor A. Ramachandran, also submitted a petition to the district administration against the project.

S.K. Murthy, a resident of the locality and coordinator of the Salem Water Resources Protection Movement, said that through this project, waste from five districts will be burnt, polluting groundwater, air, and land. Compared to other electricity-generating projects, this would emanate 28 times more dioxins, 14 times more mercury, six times more sulphur dioxide and three times more nitrogen oxide, he added.

Due to this, residents, including children and the elderly living in the locality, will suffer from various health issues. The people living in the 30-km surroundings will be affected as well due to air pollution. He stated that the plant requires 1.50 lakh litres of water for its functioning. “As water will be brought from six districts by road, the environment will be affected, and there is a possibility for diseases to spread via waste,” he said and added that the TVK government, which cancelled the dyeing units proposed as part of the textile park in Salem, should also cancel this project.

Stating that PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss had opposed this project, Mr. Murthy said that a massive protest is being planned against the project. Resolutions will be passed in gram sabha meetings in the 30 villages that would be affected through the project. “Instead of implementing this project, the government should create awareness about segregating waste at the household in four categories, Mr. Murthy added.