The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 19, 2024, directed the state of Kerala and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to remove all types of waste dumped inside Tamil Nadu within three days and submit an action-taken report. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on December 23, 2024.
The bench took suo motu cognisance of the issue based on newspaper reports that highlighted the actions of unidentified miscreants who had dumped biomedical, food, plastic and other waste from Kerala in Kodaganallur and Palavoor villages in Tamil Nadu.
Two cases were registered by police in Suthamalli, Tamil Nadu regarding the matter. Photographs published in newspapers revealed heaps of biomedical waste in forested areas, posing a significant threat not only to wildlife but also to people residing within the forest.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) informed the court that they had already written to the Chairperson of the KSPCB via a letter dated December 18, 2024, requesting legal action against the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Trivandrum for the illegal transportation and dumping of mixed solid and biomedical waste into Tamil Nadu. They also called for legal proceedings against The Leela Kovalam, a hotel identified by TNPCB as a source of the illegal waste.
The TNPCB stated that border areas between Kerala and Tamil Nadu were being monitored by the police and transport departments to prevent future instances of illegal waste transportation and dumping.
The court was further informed that the Block Development Officer of Pappakudi and the TNPCB had initiated the removal of mixed solid waste and unused syringes, disposing of them at the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility in Tirunelveli district.
Counsel for Tamil Nadu submitted that the Revenue Department had advised against taking immediate action, citing the recurring nature of the incidents. They argued that it was Kerala's responsibility to remove and appropriately treat the waste, given that it had been transported from Kerala into Tamil Nadu.
The KSPCB stated that the dumping could have been carried out by unauthorised waste collectors from Kerala. However, the court noted: “Whoever it may be, it is an admitted fact that the waste is being brought from Kerala and dumped into Tamil Nadu.”
On December 17, 2024, the NGT issued notices to authorities to investigate the illegal operation of approximately 10-12 stone crushers in the Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir.
Respondents included the deputy commissioner of Doda, the inspector general of police, the Jammu & Kashmir State Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC), the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the geology and mining Department of Jammu & Kashmir.
The court directed member secretary, J&KPCC to file a comprehensive report disclosing the details of all the legal and illegal stone crushers operating in district Doda, Jammu & Kashmir. J&KPCC was also directed to submit a report disclosing the extent of illegal mining and dumping of muck in the Chenab river.
The applicant alleged that these stone crushers are located within a 5-6 kilometre radius of Doda town, near the banks of the Chenab river. Further claims were made that stone material was being illegally excavated from nearby mountains along the Doda-Kishtwar Road and Doda-Jammu Road and supplied to unauthorised stone crushers.
The applicant also alleged that the muck from these operations was being dumped into the Chenab river, causing environmental harm, including air pollution and the risk of land subsidence in the Doda area.
The plea, filed by Raja Muzaffar Bhat, contended that these stone crushers lacked consent to establish, consent to operate and the requisite environmental clearance.