The Indian Air Force (IAF) air show, which returned to Chennai after 21 years, was met with a thundering reception by Chennai citizens on Sunday. The event featured breathtaking aerobatics by 72 aircraft between the Lighthouse and Chennai Port and drew over 1.5 million people. Among the dignitaries were Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, making for a magnificent occasion. However, the Chennai IAF Air Show Environmental Footprint included carbon emissions estimating over 2,300 Tonnes, and water bottles and juice containers littered Marina Beach and the adjacent roadways.

Despite the city’s efforts to ensure sanitation, garbage cans placed throughout the venue were generally ignored. Mahmood Sait, CEO of Urbaser Sumeet, a joint venture between Spain’s Urbaser and India’s Sumeet Group, led a team of over 100 workers who worked all night to remove rubbish from the beach. Marina Beach was immaculate on Monday morning, owing to their efforts. Sait stated that some 120 people had been cleaning the venue since Sunday until 6 p.m., followed by an additional 100 workers on night shifts to guarantee the beach and neighbouring roads were cleansed.

Challenges in Cleaning and Managing Waste

Chennai IAF Air Show environmental footprint includes a massive amount of waste collected from the beach and key roads such as Radhakrishnan Salai, Natesan Salai, and Walajah Road, as well as surrounding streets. While the amount of trash may appear modest, it was significant. Vehicles capable of transporting 18 tonnes could only handle two tonnes due to the size and type of waste, such as food containers and plastic bottles. One of the most difficult issues faced by the cleaning crews was the abundance of food debris littered throughout the beach, particularly between the Lighthouse and Anna Square.

Also Read: 36 Mammal Species In Uttarakhand May Shift To Higher Elevations Due To Climate Change

Environmental Concerns Overshadow the Success of the IAF Air Show in Chennai

Attempts to convince spectators to dispose of their waste correctly could have been more effective. “We made repeated announcements asking people to use the trash bins or hand their waste to workers, but this was mostly ignored,” Sait said. His squad carried bags to gather rubbish as they walked through the crowd. Plastic waste from the event was sent to a cement mill in Dalmiapuram for processing, providing an example of appropriate waste management.

According to an estimate by city-based researcher A Shankar Prakash, the aircraft emitted approximately 2,366 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). Jet fuel produces 3.16 kg of CO2 and 1.2 kg of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) per liter. With a total of 72 aircraft flying for an average of 8 hours each, including rehearsals, the emission of around 2,366 tonnes of CO2 was recorded. Additionally, approximately 746.4 kg of NO2 may have been emitted by the aircraft, he added.

The return of the IAF air show to Chennai after such a long hiatus was a source of pride for the city, as the event allowed the public to see the Air Force’s capabilities up close. In recent years, the air show has been relocated to different towns, with Prayagraj hosting it last year and Chandigarh hosting it the year before to spread the spectacle to more people across India. Despite the event’s great success, the vast rubbish pile and carbon emission served as a reminder of the environmental consequences of major public gatherings and the significance of communal duty in keeping public places clean.

Also Read: How California’s Composting Law SB 1383 Boosted Industrial Scale, But Marginalized Local Composters