The Kerala High Court has issued a firm directive, stating that a single, unified authority is essential to combat the severe pollution plaguing the Periyar River. The court cautioned that if the state government fails to provide concrete suggestions on forming such a body, it will be forced to pass necessary orders to ensure the river's protection.
Court's Stern Warning on River Protection
A bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha made these significant observations while hearing a series of petitions related to the mass fish deaths in the Periyar River on May 20, 2024. The court underscored that it is the fundamental duty of the government to preserve the purity of the river's waters. It emphasized that authorities must proactively intervene against any entities, industrial or otherwise, responsible for contamination.
Progress and Hurdles in Effluent Treatment Plan
During the proceedings, the counsel for the central government informed the court that the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has granted permission to the Kerala government. This permission allows the use of 75 cents of land belonging to Hindustan Insecticides Ltd at Udyogamandal to establish a temporary effluent treatment plant (ETP).
This plant is intended for 'Kuzhikandam Thodu', a tributary of the Periyar, and the lease is valid for a period of 10 years. Following this, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) submitted that it would immediately initiate steps to begin the ETP's construction, starting with identifying a competent agency for the project.
The Critical Issue of Lapsed Funds
However, a major financial setback was revealed. The KSPCB stated that while it has approximately Rs 16 crore available for the project, a crucial 40% share of the total required amount from the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) has lapsed. This lapse represents a significant blow to the funding mechanism for the cleanup initiative. Taking serious note of this development, the court has sought specific instructions from the central government regarding the lapse of the NCEF share.
In a related directive, the bench has also asked the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) to submit any report it has prepared concerning pollution-related damage to aquatic life in the Periyar River. The court has adjourned the hearing of the case to January 15 for further consideration of these matters.
