Kerala HC Directs Cochin Municipal Corporation To Submit Details Of Money Spent On Brahmapuram Waste Plant

The Kerala High Court on Monday (13 March) asked the Cochin Corporation to produce before it the details of money spent by the civic body for the maintenance of Brahmapuram waste treatment plant here, which was emitting toxic fumes for the past 10 days.

The court also instructed the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to apprise it about what work the body has done till date in connection with the pollution from the plant.

Meanwhile, the Collector NSK Umesh informed the court that 95 per cent of the fires were extinguished.

The Collector also told the court that the fire service officials and the other agencies will monitor the situation for the next seven days.

The pollution in the city, as per the air quality index (AQI), has improved, Umesh told the court.

The High Court directed the corporation secretary to produce the details of expenditure for the maintenance of the waste treatment plant. The court also asked the Pollution Control Board what action it will take against the private contractor manning the plant.

The court will further hear the matter on Tuesday (14 March).

On 10 March, taking serious note of the administration's failure in tackling the smouldering fire at the plant, the High Court had appointed a committee to monitor the situation.

The committee consisted of the Ernakulam district collector, Pollution Control Board officials and secretary of the Kerala State Legal Services Authority.

(With inputs from PTI)

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