NGT directs Kerala government to clear biomedical waste from Tamil Nadu in three days
The southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed the Kerala state government and its pollution control board to remove the bio-medical waste and mixed solid waste illegally dumped at multiple points bordering Tirunelveli district within three days and file a compliance report on December 23.
Dumping of hazardous biomedical waste by Kerala into Tamil Nadu area is occurring frequently. Truckloads of waste are reportedly being clandestinely disposed of in the pristine forests, water bodies and farm lands in Tamil Nadu in the middle of the night by miscreants from Kerala.
Earlier, dumping was reported from Anamalai, Theni, and Nanguneri; now it has been dumped in four locations – Kodaganallur, Palavoor, Kondanagaram and Sivalarkulam – all in Tirunelveli district.
The NGT was hearing a suo moto case filed based on TNIE article. The biomedical waste was from Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram and Credence private hospital, while municipal waste was from the Leela Kovalam.
The NGT has issued notices to all the three establishments apart from environment and health departments of both States for failing to curb the illegality.
The green bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal said either Kerala should take back the waste or enter into a MoU with Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility in Tamil Nadu for safe disposal. “The waste dumped must be removed immediately,” the bench said giving an ultimatum of three days.