Kochi: The Chennai bench of the Green Tribunal has rapped the City Corporation for operating the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant in the most unscientific manner and without having mandatory permission of State Pollution Control Board.
During a sitting on Tuesday, the Tribunal served a notice on the corporation secretary instructing him to appear before it in the next sitting. Though the Tribunal has asked the secretary to be present on Tuesday, the civic body's counsel filed a memo stating that the official was unable to turn up as he was out of the country for attending an international seminar.
The Tribunal also directed the PCB to prosecute officials responsible for the consistent violation of pollution norms. The Board should also submit an action taken report during the next hearing.
During the sitting, the Tribunal lashed at the civic body for not setting up a proper waste management system at Brahmapuram. The PCB had issued only a temporary permit for the dumping from 2008 to 2011.
From 2011 onwards, the plant has been functioning illegally. Even during that period, the civic body failed to comply with the stipulations of the PCB. Though the Corporation submitted application for renewal of the permit, the Board turned down the request, the Tribunal pointed out.
The NGT instructed the civic body to produce records on how the waste generated in the city is being segregated. If have no such facility is available, temporary sheds should be set up within the city limits for collecting and segregating garbage. The civic body should explain the future plans for Brahmapuram and propose steps for remediating environment impact caused by excessive waste dumping.
Meanwhile, Corporation Health Committee chairperson Adv. V.K. Minimol told DC that the civic authorities are aware of the shortcomings pointed out by the NGT. "There are certain defects in the functioning of the plant. But, despite the criticisms, the Tribunal has made it clear that waste dumping and processing at the yard can't be stopped permanently," she added.
