The Kerala government has officially decided to dissolve the State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC), which was established to oversee the implementation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Formed in 2019 under the leadership of former Kerala High Court judge A.V. Ramakrishna Pillai, the committee was a direct result of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive. Its creation followed the NGT’s observation that earlier regional committees, structured by zones, were not achieving the desired outcomes.
The dissolution stems from the government’s assessment that Kerala now boasts strong and effective institutional frameworks already handling waste management. This indicates a shift towards streamlining operations rather than a neglect of the issue.
A report submitted by the Department of Environment to the Principal Bench of the tribunal in New Delhi on October 7, 2025, stated, “This strategic move aims to eliminate redundant parallel structures, significantly boost administrative efficiency, and reinforce accountability within our established legal and policy guidelines.”
The report further highlighted the progress made, noting, “Over recent years, the Government of Kerala has implemented substantial institutional reforms and capacity-building initiatives across environmental governance and solid waste management. Consequently, we now have robust and comprehensive mechanisms fully capable of carrying out all duties previously assigned to the SLMC.”
These new measures include the establishment of a high-level committee led by the Chief Secretary, a State Level Empowered Committee tasked with reviewing and ensuring compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the clearly defined responsibilities of various agencies. These include the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Suchitwa Mission, the State Level Monitoring unit under the Swachh Bharat Mission, and District Level Monitoring Committees. The report emphasizes that these bodies collectively fulfill the monitoring requirements.
Deemed Redundant
The report concluded that “given the maturity, effectiveness, and routine operation of the aforementioned mechanisms, the SLMC’s continued existence has become redundant. Its overlapping roles and functions could potentially lead to duplicated efforts and hinder administrative efficiency.”
Since its inception in 2019, the SLMC played a crucial role, submitting numerous reports to the tribunal that highlighted significant deficiencies in the state’s solid waste management. Notably, it had previously criticized authorities, including the KSPCB and the Kochi Corporation, for their shortcomings in tackling the pollution of the Periyar river and the recurring fire incidents at the Brahmapuram dumping site.