Report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government regarding legacy waste in the Panamanna trenching ground, Ottapalam, Palakkad district, Kerala, 04/01/2025
Report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government in the matter of K M Sanjeev Vijayan Vs The Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala & Others dated January 4, 2025.
The matter related to legacy waste in the Panamanna trenching ground. The report stated that as of now there is no shortage of fund for the bio remediation work as revealed from the report of the municipality.
In the order, the NGT has observed as stated by the Ottappalam Municipality that earlier March 31, 2024 was the timeline fixed for the municipality to complete the disposal of legacy waste on the presumption that the legacy waste would be only 3 to 4 metres below the ground level. But they could not comply with the timeline because the waste was found to be lying more than 7 metres below the ground level. In addition, the required special budget allocation for the year 2024-2025 is also not sanctioned. NGT has also observed as stated by the municipality that as per the revised project report, quantity of the waste is calculated as 20303 MT and the timeline for disposal is January 31, 2025. With the said observations, the NGT directed the government to sanction the amount required for the work.
The report by the Secretary, Ottappalam Municipality the court was informed that Ottapalam municipality allocated funds in the annual plan in various phases to remove the legacy waste lying at the Panamanna trenching ground. In the first phase during the financial year 2021-2022 Rs 70,00,000 was allocated and with the amount 9200 m3 wastes have been disposed of. In the second phase during the financial year 2023-2024, a multi-year project was undertaken for an amount of Rs 2,45,00,000 to dispose of 21100 m3 legacy waste. After completion of the work, it is estimated that 20300 m3 legacy waste remains to be removed as per the drone survey conducted in which the dimensions were calculated as 7 meter from the ground level. During the financial year 2024-2025, a multi-year project has been envisaged for the disposal of 17726 m3 legacy waste for which an amount of Rs 2,20,00,000 has been earmarked.