The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of Rs 100 crore on the Kochi Corporation for the waste management crisis at the dump site in Brahmapuram, resulting in a massive fire on March 2. The Principle Bench ordered the civic body to deposit the money with the Chief Secretary within a month for remedial measures.
The NGT also directed the civic body to address health issues faced by people who inhaled the toxic fumes from the dump site for over 10 days. The tribunal held the state government responsible for the fire and also directed the Chief Secretary to fix accountability of concerned officers and initiate action for the gross failures. In a scathing order, the Bench said that the State of Kerala and its authorities have been utter failure and have rampantly violated the statutory solid waste management rules, The Hindu stated in a report on Saturday.
A committee constituted by the Kerala High Court has found that the waste treatment site at Brahmapuram doesn't conform to the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. In its report submitted to the High Court on Monday, the committee said a major portion of a building has already collapsed and has been removed from the site.
The existing building situated at the site is in a dilapidated condition and may collapse at any stage, said the committee consisting of the Ernakulam district collector and top officials of various departments, including the local self government, the state pollution control board, Kochi corporation, and the district legal services authority.
-with agency inputs
