Brahmapuram Fire: NGT expresses displeasure over delay in removal of burnt waste; calls for action taken report

The National Green Tribunal's southern zonal bench on Thursday expressed its displeasure over the delay in removal of burnt waste, plastic as well as refuse derived fuel (RDF) from the Brahmapuram waste dump in Kochi. [Jith Kumar vs The State of Kerala and Ors.].A bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Dr Satyagopal Korlapati directed the Additional Chief Secretary - Local Self Government Department, State of Kerala to file a detailed report about the action taken pursuant to the orders passed by the Tribunal for removing the burnt waste, plastic and ashes from the dump yard and also the RDF fraction which is already segregated and kept separately..The order stated that the delay was of serious concern since when the monsoon sets in, the waste could seep into the ground and mix with drinking water, turning out to be more hazardous than the fire itself..As regards the 80,000 tonnes of RDF fraction from the fire affected area, the NGT noted that it was already segregated and suggested transporting it to the Waste to Energy Plant to be commissioned by the Local Self Government Department. In the alternative, the NGT suggested transporting it to cement industries for use as a co-fuel."When these two alternative remedies are available and already the RDF fraction is separated, there seems to be no progress. We are at a loss to understand as to why the various limbs of the Government are keeping quiet without removing the same," the tribunal added..Counsel for the State of Kerala stated that the tender process, etc. were complete and the work order was yet to be issued. .The tribunal however noted that the work order related only to the new Biodegradable Waste Treatment Plant and stated that it could not understand why the waste could not be removed."As the said work order only relates to the new Biodegradable Waste Treatment Plant, we do not understand why the burned waste, plastic and ash lying on the site or the RDF fraction which is segregated are not even given an attempt to be removed from the location," the order recorded..Hence, the NGT sought the report from the Additional Chief Secretary of the Local Self Government Department. It also directed them to appear before it on video conference to clarify the plan of action and the time within which it could be completed and posted the matter for further hearing on May 8..The State of Kerala was represented by advocates G Vignesh and EK Kumaresan..[Read Order]