Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding waste management in Kerala, 24/01/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re: Report received from State Level Monitoring Committee, Kerala, constituted by this Tribunal vide order dated 16.01.2019 in O.A. No. 606/2018, headed by Justice A.V.R Pillai, former Judge of Kerala High Court, to oversee compliance of directions on the subject of Solid Waste Management dated 24/01/2020 regarding unscientific dumping of waste in violation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 (SWM Rules, 2016) causing huge pollution at Bharampuram solid waste processing plant on the outskirts of Kochi city.
Counsel for the state of Kerala has informed the tribunal that sanction has been given for waste to energy plant to be constructed in 18 months and approval for bio-methanation plants for which suitable land needs to be identified. The NGT expressed its unhappiness at the lack of any tangible action and directed that under Rule 22 of the SWM Rules, 2016 "specified cities, towns and villages may be made models of compliance within six months and the remaining cities, towns and villages may be made fully compliant within one year."
The compliance would be monitored by the Chief Secretary personally once every month and by the District Magistrate once every two weeks. The NGT directed the Secretary, Urban Development, Kerala to remain present in person on the next date with tangible progress.