Kerala HC cites need for unified authority to ensure cleanliness of the Periyar

The Kerala High Court has cited the need for a unified authority to prevent contamination of the Periyar.

The court said it would have to issue appropriate orders in due course if the State government did not give suggestions in this regard. It reminded that the court had already placed the responsibility on a high-level committee, which would continue to be in power until a better solution was thought of.

A Bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and M.B. Snehalatha made the observations while considering a batch of petitions regarding mass fish kills that were reported in the river due to pollution.

On its part, the Centre informed the High Court that 75 cents of land belonging to Hindustan Insecticides Limited at Udyogamandal could be used for a period of ten years to set up a temporary effluent treatment plant (ETP) for the remediation of ‘Kuzhikandamthodu’, a tributary of the Periyar. An order of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in this regard, dated December 16, was conveyed to the State government, it said.

Following this, the State Pollution Control Board submitted that it would take immediate steps to commence the construction of the ETP, for which an agency would be identified. The board said that it had approximately ₹16 crore, and that the share from the National Clean Energy Fund, constituting 40% of the total sum required, had lapsed. Necessary action taken reports would be filed before the court from time to time, it added.

The court sought specific instructions from the Centre on the lapse of the fund. Reiterating that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that the Periyar remained clean, the court said that the authorities concerned ought to ensure it.

It went on to direct the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies to submit any report that the university had prepared on the pollution related damage to aquatic life in the river.

The matter has been adjourned to January 15.