Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In re : News item appearing in Onmanorama dated 09.10.2023 titled  “Fire in Kozhikode waste treatment plant: Opposition alleges corporation’s conspiracy” dated 02/11/2023.

The original application is registered in suo-moto exercise of power on the basis of the news item titled “Fire in Kozhikode waste treatment plant: Opposition alleges corporation’s conspiracy” published in ‘Onmanorama’ dated October 9, 2023. As per the said news report, fire broke out around 9.30 am in a waste treatment plant at West Hill, Kozhikode and necessitated the deployment of 10 fire units.

The report says that toxic fumes were choking the area and people were complaining of health issues due to smell of burning of plastic hanging in the air. As per the report, such fire accidents are very common in Kozhikode Corporation and it has been alleged that there is a conspiracy behind the fire accident in the waste treatment plant at West Hill.

The news paper report further states that non-biodegradable waste items like plastic collected by the Corporation staff from public places are stored in this plant and a private firm is in charge of operation of the plant. Perusal of the report reveals that a serious issue relating to compliance of environment laws is involved in the matter, the court said.

The NGT directed the state of Kerala and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to file their report within a period of four weeks before the Southern Zone Bench, Chennai.