PCB report raps Kalamassery municipality for fires at dumping sites
The Hindu
‘Directions given to secretary of civic body not followed’
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has stated that the Kalamassery municipality failed to initiate measures to check repeated incidents of fire and violation of the solid waste management norms at the civic body’s dumping yard in North Kalamassery.
A preliminary report prepared by the board’s regional office in Ernakulam recalled that directions were given to the secretary of the municipality to take extra precaution to prevent fire incidents at the site. Similar fire breakouts had occurred on March 30, 2020, and March 17, 2021, it said. A major fire broke out at the site around 3 p.m. on January 18.
“There were specific directions to install CCTV cameras but we heard that the cameras were under repair at the time of the latest fire episode. It is unfortunate to note that no protection has been provided there, though several instructions were given to the authorities. They have also not provided enclosed sheds for storing plastic waste, which in turn allow the leachate to percolate into the stream nearby,” according to the board’s report.