KOCHI: With the Brahmapuram smoke literally choking the Kerala high court judge heading the bench hearing the suo motu PIL, the court on Tuesday vowed to bring about a change in the state at the grassroots-level by the World Environment Day (June 5) this year through strict implementation of Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2016.
Considering the PIL registered on the basis of a letter written to the chief justice by justice Devan Ramachandran, the bench that comprises justices SV Bhatti and Basant Balaji on Tuesday did not heed to the submissions by the state government, Cochin Corporation, and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) that action is being taken and that high-level talks are being held.
In the morning session, the court had remarked that residents of Kochi are living as if in a gas chamber and that the PCB and the Corporation failed to take sufficient action.
Stating that the court has seen enough of talks and that it is action that is needed and not shifting blame from one agency to another, the bench said the action being taken is inadequate. The state government submitted that an enquiry has been ordered into the recurring fires happening at Brahmapuram. While the corporation secretary tried to explain the action taken, the court intervened and said Kerala is a better place when compared to most other places in the country.
To the court’s question whether the fire is manmade or not, the corporation secretary said fires happen at waste management sites across the world during the summer. The court replied that nobody can prevent such fires but the action required is in containing it by resorting to the correct protocols. The court also pointed out that backwaters and lakes in the state are being treated as dumping yards for solid waste
Further, the court said it is going to develop a three-tier approach in which the actions being taken by the corporations will be monitored directly. In the case of municipalities and panchayats, an IAS officer will be responsible for the required action and will be answerable to the court, the bench said. The court will also appoint three amicus curiae in the case for each of the three levels, the bench said. The judge also said all violators should be booked and even himself should not be spared if required.
