Kerala High Court Directs State To Report Impact On Health Of Residents Near Brahmapuram Waste Management Site

The Kerala High Court recently directed the Additional Chief Secretary and the Ernakulam District Collector to carry out a socio-economic study in the Brahmapuram area and to submit a report on the impact of the unauthorised handling of solid waste at Brahmapuram on the health of the inhabitants in the area. 

A division bench of Chief Justice S V N Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji was considering a plea filed by various residents’ associations around Brahmapuram area seeking directions from the Court to prevent waste from flowing into the water bodies with the start of monsoon season by June 2023.

“Socio-economic impact study of Bramhapuram is undertaken, and a report is filed on the impact on the population from the unauthorised handling of the municipal solid waste site in Bramhapuram. The report gives the impact on the health of the inhabitants, referring to the first circle – 500-metre radius, second circle – 2-kilometre radius, and third circle – 5-kilometre radius of human habitation. The study can be on random samples to be decided by the District Administration,” the Court stated in its order. 

The Court also directed the Additional Chief Secretary to issue immediate orders to the District Collector/Secretary of the Cochin Municipal Corporation to put in place temporary sheds at Brahmapuram to prevent waste from percolating into the soil and water bodies during the upcoming monsoon season.

“In places where municipal solid waste is dumped in Bramhapuram by the transporting agencies, steps are taken to provide temporary sheds until treatment/segregation is handled. Within 15 days, the temporary sheds are put in place to prevent the percolation of pollution from municipal solid waste during the rainy season into soil and water bodies.”

The Court also informed the petitioners that any difficulties faced by the locals of Bramhapuram due to the waste dumping yard, must be brought to the notice of the Court and immediate steps will be taken to redress their grievances.

“The locals of Bramhapuram, if are denied any other benefits despite suffering so much, definitely can bring it to the notice of the Court, and the Court will ask the Additional Chief Secretary, the District Collector and the Corporation to provide the benefits on par with similarly situated individuals residing in other localities of Cochin” the Court stated in its order.

Case Title: Mapranam Nilampathinjamugal Residents Association V State of Kerala

Click here to read/download order