Kerala CM Orders Probe into Brahmapuram Fire Incident by Special Panel with Scientific Experts | Details Here

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said a special committee comprising scientific experts will be set up to probe the fire at the Brahmapuram garbage plant to find a way to prevent such incidents in future.

The chief minister was speaking inside the state legislative assembly and said that the fire had been completely doused by March 13. Due to the possibility of recurrence of smaller fires, precautions are still being taken, he said.

Vijayan said a special investigation team would probe the crime case registered in the Brahmapuram fire incident, while a vigilance probe would also be conducted into all proceedings since inception of the plant.

Ever since the fire broke out and the smoke started spreading, the health department has taken precautions to deal with any emergency.

“Special wards at Ernakulam Medical College and two taluk hospitals, 100 oxygen beds at the district hospital, besides smoke casualty and mobile medical units at Kalamassery hospital. Private hospitals also cooperated well in health related activities. A system for continuous monitoring of ambient air quality was started from March 4,” the CM said.

Vijayan further said that as per the data available, 1,335 people sought medical help at government and private hospitals – 128 were children below the age of 10 and 262 were above the age of 60. A total of 21 people required hospitalisation, while none reported any serious health problems, he said.

Here’s what the expert committee will look at:

• What are the reasons behind the fire?
• What steps should be taken to prevent such fires in future?
• How suitable is the current site as a solid waste treatment-waste disposal facility?
• To what extent the observations and recommendations made by the State Pollution Control Board have been followed?
• Who is responsible for the failure to implement the recommendations?
• Were there flaws in the agreement to implement windrow composting?
• Did the Kochi Corporation properly supervise the work in Brahmapuram? Who was responsible for this? Defects pointed out?
• What steps have been taken by the contractors to rectify the deficiencies identified in the work?
• What is the reason for the accumulation of waste of other local bodies in the solid waste storage and disposal area of ​​Kochi Corporation?
• What are the factors affecting the performance of a windrow composting plant?
• Who is responsible for the pathetic condition and mismanagement of the Windrow Composting Plant?
• Analysis of previous waste management measures and reasons for delay
• To what extent the civic body and the contractors have complied with the obligations of the concerned parties under the contract signed regarding the implementation of the bioremediation process?
• What was the arrangement for the collection of organic and inorganic waste and their delivery to the treatment center within Kochi Corporation limits? How was the performance of the contractor evaluated? What was the reason behind the decision to collect the waste without sorting it and depositing it in Brahmapuram? What steps have been taken to resolve this?
• To what extent is it possible to ensure source waste management in facilities with large volumes of solid waste?

Activities in Kochi will be assessed on a daily basis by the Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government Department. In addition, the Minister for Local Self-Government and Industries will review every week.

Vijayan also said that around 250 fire engines and rescue personnel worked round the clock in two shifts. For this, 32 fire engines, several Hitachi and high capacity motor pumps were used. A total of 2,000 firefighters and 500 Civil Defense volunteers participated in the operation. The fire was brought under control in a very organized collective effort. I congratulate all the employees of Fire and Rescue Service, Health Department, Civil Defence, Police and Kochi Corporation who participated in this activity,” he said, adding that there have been four fire incidents in Brahmapuram in the past years.

The unscientific practice of bringing and depositing huge amounts of garbage without segregation is prevalent in Brahmapuram for more than a decade. The CM said that between 1995 and 2000, the Kochi Corporation acquired 33 acres for a waste management center and then 15 acres in Brahmapuram. Subsequently, 13 acres were acquired between 2000 and 2005 and 60 acres between 2005 and 2010.

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