Kerala High Court convenes special hearing after children in Ponnurun Anganwadi get food poisoning, takes note of Tirunelveli waste dump

The standing counsel for the Cochin Corporation told the court that they are looking into the causes of food poisoning and the accumulation of dirt in the drains. The court asked the Kochi Corporation Secretary to submit a written affidavit stating the steps taken to clean the drains and the steps taken to prevent dumping and accumulation of plastic or other waste in drains, rivers or backwaters.

The special bench was formed after a fire broke out at the Brahmapuram landfill in March 2023. The authorities were able to extinguish the fire only after 12 days. Since then, the Court controls the issue of waste management in the state

The court also commented on the news that waste from Kerala was dumped in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. According to reports, biomedical waste from Kerala was dumped at various sites in Tirunelveli.

The court noted that they often emphasized the need to track waste disposal practices by waste collection agencies. The court noted that such incidents should be avoided.

The local government secretary was ordered to file an affidavit detailing the facilities that collect and dispose of waste from local authorities and other bulk waste generators such as hospitals. The affidavit should include the steps taken to track the mode and manner in which the waste collection agencies dispose of the waste.

Case Name: Suo Motu vs. State of Kerala and others

Case No: WP(C) No. 7844 of 2023