The Kerala Government has requested the National Green Tribunal to waive the obligation of maintaining a separate ring-fenced account for liquid waste management, contending that the current state budget processes and active project funding sufficiently meet the directive’s purpose.
NGT Directive & Background
The NGT’s directive for the ring-fenced allocation on March 22, 2023, stemmed from ongoing concerns regarding the state’s adherence to liquid waste management obligations, particularly in light of previous failures to address environmental issues in the ecologically sensitive Ashtamudi and Vembanad wetland regions, which prompted legal scrutiny in OA No. 147 of 2022 (Krishna Das K.V. vs State of Kerala). The tribunal had directed a ring-fenced allocation of Rs 10 crore for restoration and waste management activities across the two wetland zones.
Fund Disbursement & Timeline
The Kerala government subsequently created a dedicated budget head on March 25, 2024, accorded administrative sanction on June 12, 2025, and issued a final Government Order on July 9, 2025, thereby operationalising the fund’s use. Of the total allocation, Rs 23,980,993 has been disbursed to date across rural and urban projects in the Kollam, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
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Key Projects Supported
Funds disbursed have significantly enhanced municipal liquid waste management infrastructure across the state:
- Kollam Region: ₹10 crore allocated for biogas digester installations, ₹5 crore for sewage treatment plants (STPs), and ₹3 crore for mobile composting facilities.
- Municipal Allocations: Targeted funding for waste segregation infrastructure in Maradu, Thrikkakkara, Ettumanoor, and Alappuzha.
- Kochi Municipal Corporation: ₹2 crore allocated to the Brahmapuram Biomining Project.
Sources: Kerala Government Report, NGT MA No. 58 of 2024
