Brahmapuram's never-ending garbage smoke; health minister Veena George said masks have been made mandatory in Kochi

KOCHI: The Health Minister said that masks have been made mandatory in Kochi to combat the waste fumes from the Brahmapuram waste plant. The measure is to combat health problems caused by inhaling toxic fumes. The decision was taken in a review meeting chaired by the Health Minister. It is recommended to wear masks compulsorily including for the students going to attend the exam. Veena George informed that we are equipped to face any situation at present.

The minister informed that currently 899 people have sought treatment for the main symptoms of headache, sore throat, and eye strain, and special attention should be paid to children, the elderly, and the sick. The new guidelines were issued mandating masks as the effort to quell the smoke entered its 10th day. Garbage removal has resumed in Kochi as per the instructions of the High Court. But the garbage trucks were stopped by the locals.

Meanwhile, the Kochi Corporation responded that before the fire broke out at the Brahmapuram waste plant itself, they had given warnings to Sonda Infratech, the bio-mining contractor. But the corporation claims that the contract company ignored this. The explanation given by the corporation is that the letter was issued immediately after the fire in February. In the letter, it was suggested that waste should be sorted and disposed of and fire protection systems should be prepared.