No further steps being taken after fire at Brahmapuram plant

KOCHI: The authorities did not take further steps to remove the garbage, ash and plastic burnt in the 12-day fire at the Brahmapuram plant.

The Zonta Company, which has undertaken the task of waste removal at the plant, has been conducting biomining for a few days. The company's contract expires in June.

Corporation has signed a deal worth Rs 55 crore with Zonta for biomining. Corporation officials say that the company has stopped biomining because it is concerned about whether the government will renew the contract in the wake of controversies. 80,000 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) extracted through biomining is stored here.

• Neither the Corporation, the State Industrial Development Corporation, the local department nor the Pollution Control Board have responded to the National Green Tribunal's query about what steps have been taken to separate and dispose of the ash and piled up garbage caused by the fire.
• Experts warn that the ash from the fire of the garbage dump is washed away by the rain and mixes with the soil and water. The tribunal had directed the Pollution Control Board to conduct a scientific study on whether capping of the tailings could be done legally, but did not respond.

As of now,

* A vigilance probe is underway into the plant's waste management contracts dating back to 2011

* Only household kitchen waste in Kochi Corporation is collected and brought to the plant

* From June 1, the responsibility of organic waste disposal in Brahmapuram will be handed over to the agencies under the Sanitation Mission.

* The corporation fined Rs 62 lakh for throwing garbage on the street

* Rs 1.14 crore was spent to put out the fire and smoke in Brahmapuram. Of this, Rs 90 lakh were spent by the corporation.