NGT Questions Kerala on Nexus in Dumping Case

Directs secretary to submit a detailed report on biomedical waste

- S V KRISHNA CHAITANYA

THE southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday questioned the Kerala government as to whether it's colluding with the alleged violator in the illegal dumping of biomedical waste in Tamil Nadu and directed the secretary of Kerala's environment department to submit a detailed report on the issue.

The tribunal also directed Tamil Nadu to enhance monitoring along the border by setting up a dedicated task force to track vehicular movement.

Criticising the Kerala authorities for their failure to take decisive action, the tribunal flagged inaction and lack of accountability in addressing this serious environmental and public health issue.

The bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, expressed displeasure with the report submitted by Kerala, which did not specify the quantity of waste removed from the border villages in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district. The tribunal found Kerala's response inadequate and vague.