Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to set up a dedicated authority and prepare a comprehensive management plan to protect Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar wetland of international importance that is currently facing severe environmental threats.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji passed the order while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that flagged the alarming deterioration of the ecologically fragile lake due to unchecked pollution, encroachment, and unregulated human activity.

Citing the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, the court noted that despite legal provisions mandating protective measures, Ashtamudi still lacks both a dedicated conservation unit and a site-specific management plan. This absence, the bench said, has led to uncoordinated and ineffective efforts to safeguard the lake.

“The first and foremost requirement is the constitution of a dedicated multi-member unit,” the bench observed, adding that an integrated management plan, to be implemented by this unit, must also be drawn up. Without such a plan, any conservation effort would remain ad hoc and fragmented, the court cautioned.

The plan must address Ashtamudi’s unique ecological and hydrological features, assess existing threats, outline targeted conservation and restoration actions, and include clear timelines, budgets, and performance indicators.

The court also highlighted the major threats plaguing the lake, including sewage discharge, biomedical and solid waste pollution, and the destruction of mangroves due to encroachment. In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had fined the state ₹10 crore for its failure to protect the lake.

In a series of binding directions, the court ordered the state to constitute the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit within two months through an official notification. The Unit’s first meeting must be held within two months of its formation to finalise operational procedures. The court also mandated the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide the Unit’s functioning and ensure coordination among relevant stakeholders.

The state was further directed to provide the Unit with office infrastructure, support staff, and adequate funding. The Unit must also maintain a dedicated website or webpage featuring the full management plan, the names of its members, and a mechanism for public feedback.

The court stipulated that the final Integrated Management Plan must be completed within six months, with an interim plan in place until then. It also underlined the importance of public participation, directing that the website should allow users to upload or share audio-visual content highlighting environmental concerns.

The PIL was accordingly disposed of, with liberty granted to the Secretary of the Wetland Management Unit to seek further directions from the court if needed.