Kerala High Court Seeks Urgent Action On Cleaning Of Periyar River's Tributary, Moots Formation Of Unified River Authority
While hearing a batch of matters concerning pollution of Periyar river, the Kerala High Court has sought urgent action with respect to the river's tributary Kuzhikandam Thodu, reiterating the need for a unified river authority.During the hearing a division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M B Snehalatha expressed serious concern over the continuing inaction on cleaning...
While hearing a batch of matters concerning pollution of Periyar river, the Kerala High Court has sought urgent action with respect to the river's tributary Kuzhikandam Thodu, reiterating the need for a unified river authority.
During the hearing a division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M B Snehalatha expressed serious concern over the continuing inaction on cleaning and restoring of the tributary.
The Chief Secretary of Kerala and Senior State Officials appeared online and sought additional time to review previous court directions and related proceedings. Supporting this request, Senior Government Pleader S. Kannan acknowledged that while certain steps were underway, the ground situation at Kuzhikandam Thodu had not improved significantly. He also indicated that assistance from the Central Government might become necessary.
Petitioners' counsel, A. X. Varghese and Kuriakose Varghese, emphasised that the situation was of “great seriousness and urgency,” particularly with the imminent end of the monsoon season. Varghese highlighted that despite multiple court orders and recommendations by a high-level committee, “nothing worthwhile has come out on the ground,” especially with regard to the cleaning of Kuzhikandam Thodu.
The Bench observed that the matter should not be treated as adversarial litigation, underscoring that “this Court is concerned about the voice of the people, who live upon the waters of the river Periyar.”
Recalling its earlier suggestion for an integrated authority, the Court noted that such a body would be able to address issues promptly without the need to rely on multiple agencies.
Although the State had previously been asked to examine the feasibility of an Integrated River Basin Management Plan, the Government Pleader submitted that such a model may not be workable in the case of Periyar.
The Court therefore stressed that its suggestion for a unified river authority, or an equivalent mechanism, must now be “looked into very seriously.”
Adjourning the matter to the end of September after the Onam holiday, the Bench expressed hope that the State Government would present “viable solutions” by then, particularly in relation to the cleaning of Kuzhikandam Thodu.
“It would be to our appreciation if steps for its cleaning are initiated or completed within that time,” the order stated.
Case Title - Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi v State of Kerala and connected cases and connected Matters
Case No - WP(C) 996/ 2012 and Connected Matters
Counsel for Petitioners - K K Ashkar, Ashira Mohamed Ashrof, Mathew A Kuzhalnadan, Kuriakose Varghese, K R Arun Krishnan, Sudeep Aravind Panicker, V Shyamohan, K M George, Chithra P George, Mathews P George, Sneha Harisankar, Sureshkumar M, A V Jojo, B M Jeevan Raj, A X Varghese, Harisankar S, Sherry J Thomas, Joemon Antony, Antony Nilton Remelo, Renish Raveendran, Thaman Bai, P J Unnikrishnan, Ligish Xavier, Gokul Devis, Riyan Augustine Shaji, Amal M
Counsel for Respondents - N Ajith, Geetha P Menon, R Suraj Kumar, P B Subramnyan, Dinesh R Shenoy, R V Rahul, Lijin Thamban, George Cherian, Lal K Joseph, T Naveen, K T Thomas, K M George, C Dinesh, M Ajay, M Gopikrishnan Nambiar, K John Mathai, Jason Manavalan, Kuryan Thomas, Paulose C Abraham, Raja Kannan, Pranoy Harilal, Tesin Mathew, K S Arun Kumar, Babu Joseph Kuruvathazha, Archana K S, Mohammed Shafi K, Noel Elias, P M Johny, Justine Jacob, Prakash M P, T K Ajithkumar,
Amicus Curiae - Ananthakrishnan A Kartha