National Green Tribunal advocate's panel visits Brahmapuram plant
The visit was based on a petition seeking closure of the plant citing high levels of pollution.
KOCHI: While complaints pour in against the ‘unscientific functioning’ of the City Corporation’s Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant, the one-member advocate’s Commission appointed by the south zone bench of the National Green Tribunal visited the yard on Tuesday. Adv. Ekalingam visited the plant along with Mayor Soumini Jain, Deputy Mayor T.J Vinod, standing committee chairmen and civic officials. The visit was based on a petition seeking closure of the plant citing high levels of pollution.
However, there are allegations that the Commission could not inspect the huge piles of untreated plastic refuse as the civic body recently did land filling in the area. The Commission also reviewed the waste segregation process and its transportation from city areas. Meanwhile, Mayor Soumini Jain said that the Commission was not in Brahmapuram to collect evidence but on a fact finding mission based on which a report would be submitted to the Tribunal during its next hearing.
Health committee chairperson VK Minimol told DC that the Commission would confirm that processing of organic waste was being done on a regular basis at the plant. “Earlier, the NGT’s observation was that no waste treatment process is done at the plant. In view of the threats, the civic body has sought police protection for the visit. Only representatives of the people’s action committee were allowed to enter the yard during the visit,” she said. It was in 2010 that a group of local residents approached the High Court against the functioning of the plant saying it had serious environmental consequences. The High Court transferred the case to the NGT in 2013.
