Soon, a panel to monitor green law implementation in Ernakulam

Kochi: Steps are afoot to form district level monitoring committee (DLMC) for the effective implementation of various environmental laws in Ernakulam. As part of constituting the committee, a meeting was convened on Saturday by state level monitoring committee headed by Justice A V Ramakrishna Pillai, formed to monitor the implementation of Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016.

DLMC will have nine members with district collector as chairman. Members of the committee include district police chief, district medical officer, deputy director of panchayats, senior officer in pollution control board in the district, representative of legal services authority, representative of Suchitwa Mission, representative of Haritha Kerala Mission, a senior official of collectorate to function as nodal officer-cum-secretary of the DLMC and senior official of forest department in the district.

“When police fail to take action in any environment-related issues, public can approach the DLMC headed by the collector, who is the district magistrate. He can issue order directing police to take action in such cases. The committee will oversee implementation of various environmental laws and report it to senior officers,” said an official, who attended the meeting at Ernakulam Guest House.

The meeting also witnessed Justice Pillai asking officials about implementation of around 16 rules related to water and environment, and asked them to intervene wherever necessary. He also said that officials and local body heads should be given training in implementation of the laws, if required.

The meeting also discussed about waste management issues in the district. Justice Pillai asked officials to impose charges from those who refuse to segregate waste at source and deny user fee for clearing the waste.

Meanwhile, Suchitwa Mission has chalked out a plan to turn North Paravur block into a model block in the district in solid waste management.

“The expenditure for the purpose will be met from corporate social responsibility funding, Suchitwa Mission fund and plan fund of local bodies in the area. Technical support group Haritha Karma Sena has been formed to collect waste from source, segregate it and transport to resource collection facility, where it will be again segregated before being transported by Clean Kerala company. Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC) in Palakkad will be roped to train members of the Sena on how to segregate the waste. However, reusable materials will be resold at swap festivals to be conducted in the area. Plastic, which cannot be transported, will be shredded at the shredding unit at the resource collection facility being set up at Chendamangalam. Awareness programmes will be conducted among the local people,” said a Suchitwa Mission official.