Garbage pile-up at Fort Kochi beach: CPCB tells NGT that responsibility is on local authorities to ensure compliance

Fort Kochi beach
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it is the responsibility of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the Kochi Corporation and the Ernakulam district administration to initiate necessary action against the garbage pile-up along the Fort Kochi beach in Ernakulam, Kerala.

As per the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, it is the duty of the local authorities to facilitate construction, maintenance and operation of solid waste processing facilities and associated infrastructure, said a report dated March 17 filed by the board before the Southern Bench of the tribunal in the case pertaining to the impact of garbage pile-ups on the tourism potential of the Fort Kochi coastline.

Besides the CPCB, the tribunal had included the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, the Kochi Corporation and the Ernakulam District Collector as respondents.

The central board stated that the local bodies and panchayats are entrusted with the primary responsibility of collection and management of municipal solid waste, maintenance and operation of the solid waste processing sites and dump yards.

It is the duty of the State Urban Affairs department to ensure the implementation of provisions of the SWM rules by all the local authorities. The State pollution control boards are also entrusted with the responsibility of issuing authorisation to the local bodies after examining the proposals related to waste management, it said.

KSPCB’s response

In its response filed before the tribunal dated March 17, the KSPCB said that the beach area, covering about 1 km, features footpaths for tourists. The primary issue identified is the accumulation of waste along the shoreline, which is largely caused by debris brought in by waves. The waste included water hyacinth, plastics, thermocol and other litter, including waste discarded by tourists and street vendors, it said.

The board has asked the Kochi Corporation to submit a detailed action plan and compliance report on waste management measures at Fort Kochi. The civic body submitted a compliance report dated March 14, confirming that the waste pile-up along the beach has been removed, it said.