State informs High Court of new river basin committee headed by CM to tackle river pollution

The State government has informed the Kerala High Court that it has notified an 'Integrated River Basin Conservation and Management Plan' (Plan) to tackle pollution in the Periyar river [Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi v State of Kerala & ors and connected cases]

A Division Bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and MB Snehalatha was told on July 11 that multiple committees have been assigned responsibilities under the plan, with the apex committee headed by the Chief Minister. 

The government assured the Bench that the issues raised by the High-Level Committee constituted by the Court, the Pollution Control Board, and local bodies regarding all rivers in Kerala would be addressed and resolved by this management plan.

"…the Government has notified the “Integrated River Basin Conservation and Management Plan” which has several committees under it, beginning with the Apex Committee, chaired by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala. He asserted before us that this Management “Plan” will be in a position to take care of River Periyar, along with all the other rivers in Kerala," the Court noted in its order. 

It then listed the case for further hearing on August 11 and ordered the Chief Secretary to file a comprehensive report about what the plan has achieved.

The High Court is seized of a batch of petitions filed by NGOs, including Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi, Green Action Force and others, highlighting the severe environmental degradation of the river Periyar caused by unchecked waste dumping from industries along its banks. 

Notably, it was the High Court that proposed the creation of a unified authority to monitor and tackle the rising pollution in the Periyar River.

The State government initially came up with ideas to form committees but they were rejected by the Court.

After being notified about the plan, the Court expressed optimism. However, it clarified that it would continue to monitor the progress closely and warned that any further negligence would incur consequences for the responsible authorities.

"Periyar is the main drinking water source for many, including Kochi; and its pollution will cause cataclysmic consequences to citizens, not merely in the short term but also in the long term. We are saying this only to remind the Authorities that the very fountain of life - which Periyar is, should be maintained with purity, for the generations to come and that any insouciance in during so should lead to necessary consequences against specified Authorities / Officers," the Court added.

Senior government pleader S Kannan appeared for the State.

Advocate AX Varghese represented some of the petitioners.

[Read Order]