Aafrin Kidwai 
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has, once again, come down heavily on the Kerala government over the continued ineffective solid waste management of Kochi’s Brahmapuram waste plant, stating that the administration failed in protecting citizens’ right to a clean environment.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice AK Goel said that there was no meaningful action for complying with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and handling of solid waste, in spite of repeated directions in the last two years.
The tribunal noted that the Kochi municipal corporation is still continuing unauthorized operations and work is yet to start for bio-mining while pointing out that compensation has been assessed but not recovered, reports PTI.
“It is unfortunate that in spite of several orders of this Tribunal for the last two years, the officers concerned have only paid lip service to the issue. There is thus a clear governance deficit which needs to be urgently remedied at the appropriate highest level in the state”, the bench said.
The NGT said there is a failure to enforce environmental laws. “We do hope that at least now prompt action will be taken in the matter failing which the Tribunal may have to adopt coercive measures as per law, including the prosecution of officers concerned,” it said.
