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The Kerala High Court on Wednesday said that incidents similar to the recent fire that broke out at the Brahmapuram waste plant at the edge of Kochi city can happen anywhere in Kerala if proper action is not taken for disposal of waste [St. Stephen’s Malankara Catholic Church Kattanam Village v State of Kerala].
Justice Devan Ramachandran made the observation while considering the issue of how illegal billboards, flex, and banners on roads could be disposed of.
The judge noted that issues concerning waste disposal is prevalent across that State and that in Trivandrum district, such banners are being dumped in a waste yard, which in turn produce poisonous fumes when it gets burnt as legacy waste.
“Do you think this incident that happened in Kochi will not happen elsewhere? This can happen anywhere. We cannot add to the garbage waste. Trivandrum is full of boards. You (Trivandrum Corporation) are saying you removed it. When you moved it to the dumping yard, it will burn there as it is legacy waste. Citizens will have to suffer. The fumes from the paint of these flex are poisonous when burnt. You do all these in the name of people,” Justice Ramachandran orally remarked.
The judge pulled up political parties for not showing any concern with the disposal of the posters and banners ,
” Shouldn’t these people have some concern for the ecology or state as well as citizens? The burden on the people is too high. Why aren’t we learning a lesson despite the Brahmapuram incident? The citizens should take the burden and the people who keep these boards, tell it is for the citizens. Our state has no capacity to deal with this. You can’t simply say it is being recycled,” Justice Ramachandran observed.
The single-judge also expressed his concerns about the effects of the fumes emanating from the Brahmapuram fire.
“I am scared for my children and the old people. It is simple to tell, close windows and doors, and sit at home. Are you sure smokes won’t enter if we do this? Is this the way we react to emergency?,” he asked.
The issues surrounding the Brahmapuram fire is also the subject matter of a suo motu petition that the court initiated this week.
The suo motu matter is being heard by a division bench of Justices SV Bhatti and Basant Balaji.
The focus of the hearing yesterday was on containing the fire.
When the matter was taken up today, the Secretary of the Kochi Corporation told the Court that the fire has been put out completely. He also submitted that a small fire had broken out last night but that it was contained on time and that any other fires that may break out will be dealt with immediately and effectively.
The Court directed the corporation secretary, the district collector, the additional chief secretary to the State government, and the chairperson of the Pollution Control Board to submit reports on the action taken and the steps required to address the myriad issues caused by the fire and to prevent the same in the future.
The reports have to be submitted by March 10, Friday after considering the developments that take place at the high level conference called by the Chief Minister this evening.
On being informed that the Brahmapuram plant depends solely on two electricity generators, the Court directed the Kerala State Electricity Board to ensure that a temporary power line is provided by 8 pm today.
