Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for local self-governments, MB Rajesh, said that the government is taking the National Green Tribunal order penalising the Kochi corporation for the recent Brahmapuram fire incident seriously.

He was talking to the media about the Rs 100 crore an environmental compensation imposed on the local body on Saturday.

Rajesh accused the previous administrations of the corporation led by UDF of violating orders of the green tribunal in waste management. Rajesh added that the state government intervened to take up the functioning of the plant as the corporation showed incompetence in resolving it.

The order clearly states that the waste management issue has been prevailing since 2012, said Rajesh. He added that the decade-long issue would be resolved with the action plan announced by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the Assembly. The Government has announced a two-phase programme from March 13-December 31 to make Kerala “waste-free.”