Brahmapuram fire: Study impact of inhaling poisonous air, PIL urges Kerala HC

KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Thursday directed for listing for hearing a PIL seeking a study on the impact of inhalation of contaminated air emanating from Brahmapuram waste treatment site along with the suo motu case registered by the court earlier.

A division bench — comprising justices K Vinod Chandran and C Jayachandran — issued the directive after considering a PIL filed by Rajesh P of Palluruthy through advocate Harisankar N Unni.
The state government, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Ernakulam district collector, Kochi Corporation, the Union government, ministry of environment, Central Pollution Control Board and the district environmental engineer of the pollution control board have been named as opposite parties in the PIL.
Through the PIL, a court directive is being sought to conduct a detailed examination of the impact of the inhalation of contaminated air by the people and give treatment to the public at the expense of the government.
Another demand raised by the petitioner is for a declaration that the authorities are bound to douse the fire, by seeking the help of the Indian Army if necessary, and to resume collection of waste.
The plea will be considered by a division bench of justices SV Bhatti and Basant Balaji on Friday along with the suo motu case.
Residents urged to stay indoors
With air quality deteriorating at an alarming pace at Brahmapuram and its neighbourhoods, the Kerala government on Thursday requested the residents in these areas to stay indoors and not to keep the windows and doors open, PTI adds.
It has also advised the residents to avoid activities like jogging and exercising outside their houses, and also to use N95 masks when they go out.
The Ernakulam district administration has also set up 24-hour control rooms at Kalamassery Medical College and also at the office of the District Medical Officer (DMO) for the public to call if they experience any difficulty due to inhalation of the smoke from the plant.
Public can call the Medical College control room at 8075774769 or the DMO control room at 0484 2360802, authorities said.
District Collector NSK Umesh, who assumed office on Thursday amidst political blame game over the fire, visited the site along with local MLA P V Sreenijan and Corporation Mayor M Anil Kumar.
He said all need to work together to douse the flames.
"District administration, people's representatives, officials, and media should work together to overcome this crisis," the collector said, adding that a permanent solution to the problem would be found once they get over the current problem.
The Kerala Fire and Rescue force is now engaged in an unparalleled mission at Brahmpauram with about 200 firefighters, from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram are engaged in fire fighting in two shifts for 24 hours.
Fire service sources said the smoldering plastic waste in 70 per cent of the area that caught fire has been doused and works are on to extinguish smoke in the remaining 30 per cent of the area.
With PTI inputs