Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday expressed displeasure over the delay in addressing pollution in the Periyar River, especially at the Kuzhikandam Thodu stretch. A Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M B Snehalatha was hearing petitions on the issue when the Court noted that despite an urgent need for action, little progress had been made.

Appearing for petitioners, advocate A X Varghese suggested that setting up a new effluent treatment plant (ETP) as proposed by the State was unnecessary, and instead, the task could be handled by Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL).

The State, however, opposed this, with the Senior Government Pleader stating that KEIL lacked the technical capacity for such large-scale remediation. The Kerala Pollution Control Board (KPCB) also supported the plan for a new ETP, to be built on 75 cents of land taken from the erstwhile Hindustan Insecticides Ltd.

The Bench was informed that funds collected from defaulting industries, including HIL, had been set aside for clean-up efforts under the “polluter pays” principle. However, the Court noted that 40% of the Centre’s contribution under the Clean Energy Fund had already lapsed.

Directing urgent steps, the Court asked the State to consider KEIL’s proposal and file a feasibility report. It also told the Centre to take a final decision on the transfer of land for the ETP, while requiring both the Central and State Pollution Control Boards to clarify their roles and disclose details of funds.

The case will be taken up again on Monday.
(With LiveLaw inputs)