NGT slams Kerala for inaction on biomedical waste dumping, directs T.N. to strengthen border monitoring

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) strongly criticised Kerala State authorities for failing to take strict action against those responsible for dumping biomedical and mixed solid waste from the State into neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) strongly criticised Kerala State authorities for failing to take strict action against those responsible for dumping biomedical and mixed solid waste from the State into neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

During the hearing on Thursday (January 2, 2025), the bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, noted that the report filed by Kerala on the removal of waste was surprisingly silent about the quantity of waste removed from the border villages in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

It was further submitted during the hearing that the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) issued a show-cause notice on December 19, 2024, to the Regional Cancer Centre, Credence Multispecialty Family Hospital, and Leela Kovalam resort. However, with the exception of Credence, no one had responded, and the KSPCB had taken no action.

While the counsel representing the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) referred to the issuance of notice as an “eyewash”, the bench reprimanded the authorities for not taking more decisive action.

Additionally, the standing counsel for Kerala stated that a high-level meeting had been held in the State regarding the issue. However, the bench expressed surprise that IMAGE, the only agency authorised to handle biomedical waste in Kerala, was also part of the meeting and questioned whether the government authorities were “joining hands” with the violator.

“Surprisingly, the government’s report also states that a high-level meeting was held and a joint inspection conducted, with experts from IMAGE, the alleged violator in this case, being part of the process. Let the Secretary of the Environment Department, Kerala file another report answering the above question,” the bench directed.

The bench also expressed surprise as to why no show-cause notice had been issued to IMAGE despite its involvement in the violation. The bench suggested that, rather than relying on a single agency monopolising the handling of biomedical waste, Kerala could consider entering into agreements with authorised agencies from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.