Kerala High Court Convenes Special Sitting After Children In Ponnuruni Anganwadi Get Food Poisoning, Takes Note Of Waste Dumping In Tirunelveli
Manju Elsa Isac
24 Dec 2024 9:45 AM IST
A special Bench of Kerala High Court comprising Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath P. convened a special sitting on Monday (December 23) after seeing news visuals about the food poisoning incident in an Anganwadi in Ponnuruni.
Reportedly, 12 kids and one ayah of the Anganwadi have shown symptoms of food poisoning. The Court said that they noticed in the video that the drainage adjacent to the Anganwadi was filled with filth to the brim.
The Standing Counsel for Cochin Corporation informed the Court that they are looking into reasons for food poisoning and the accumulation of filth in the drain. The Court asked the Secretary of the Kochi Corporation to file an affidavit stating the steps being taken to clear the filth from the drain and steps taken to prevent dumping and accumulation of plastic or other wastes into drains, rivers or backwaters.
The Special Bench was constituted after the Brahmapuram dumpyard caught fire in March 2023. The authorities were able to put out the fire only after 12 days. The Bench has been monitoring the issue of waste management in the State since then
The Court also commented on the news that waste from Kerala was dumped at Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. As per the reports, biomedical wastes from Kerala were dumped at different sites in Thirunelveli.
The Court observed that they have often emphasized the need to track the mode of waste disposal by the waste collecting agencies. The Court said that such incidents should be avoided.
The Secretary of the Local Self Government was directed to file an affidavit detailing the agencies that have been engaged in collection and disposal of wastes from local authorities and other bulk waste generators like hospital. The affidavit should include the steps taken to track the mode and manner by which the waste collecting agencies dispose of this waste.
Case Title: Suo Motu v State of Kerala and Others
Case No: WP(C) No 7844 of 2023
Click Here To Read/ Download Order
