[8] A 2014 study of coal plants in Southeast India documented extensive environmental impacts from the North Chennai Thermal Power Station, including dumping of large quantities of coal combustion waste into the Buckingham Canal and in nearby marshlands, leaking ash ponds, and discharge of hot water into Ennore Creek.

The North Chennai Thermal Power Station is polluting the area in Athipattu Pudunagar, Ennore and thus has taken away the livelihood of many residents.

[9] A huge threat to the environment in Athipattu Pudunagar and Ennore is the illegal dumping of fly ash by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), which is running the North Chennai Thermal Power Plant.

Fly ash is a by-product when coal gets burned and is toxic; it contains heavy metals such as arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, mercury and selenium.

In a recent order the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal forces TANGEDCO to remove the illegally dumped fly ash from the Ennore Creek.