Published Jul 24, 2024 | 4:24 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 24, 2024 | 4:24 PM
Ashtamudi lake. (Wikimedia)
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday, 24 July, directed the Kollam Sub Collector to initiate proceedings to remove encroachers in and around the Ashtamudi Lake—a Ramsar site, which has been described as the gateway to the state’s backwaters.
The high court directed the Sub Collector to initiate action within a period of six months after duly following the procedure under the Land Conservancy Act.
The division bench comprising A Muhamed Mustaque, Acting Chief Justice and Justice S Manu further directed District Police Chief, Kollam to assist in the removal of encroachers.
“The District Police Chief is directed to give assistance to implement the orders passed under the Land Conservancy Act for removal of encroachers by deploying necessary police personnel,” the court added.
The court also directed the Kollam Corporation to take strict measures to prevent the discharge of waste and other effluents into the lake and asked the secretaries of the Kollam Corporation, and other local authorities to place before it what action had been taken to prevent the passing of waste to the lake.
“Strict action shall be taken by the secretary to prevent the passing of waste and other effluents into the lake, in the light of the government orders against dumping of waste in public places. Necessary orders shall be passed by the secretary and the same be placed before this court by next posting,” the bench directed.
The counsel for the petitioner further pointed out that the effluents are allowed to pass to the lake and that there is no sewage treatment plant by the Kollam Corporation.
This writ petition was filed by Boris Paul, an advocate of Kollam Bar, who sought a relief to clean up the Ashtamudi Lake and restore its water quality.
He further sought a direction to implement proper sewage treatment facilities to remove the waste from the Ashtamudi Lake. Paul also prayed for the removal of encroachment in and around the Ashtamudi Lake.
The bench further noted, “Based on our direction, the learned senior government pleader placed before us the list of encroachers identified in Ashtamudi Lake. It is astonishing to know that it is not a small parcel of land but a large extent of land that has been encroached on. It is high time that we need to secure this “Kayal puramboke” for future generations and also ensure the free flow of water in the Ashtamudi Lake.”
Kayal puramboke refers to the unassessed land near a lake, belonging to the government.
The court will again consider the case on 6 August.
Ashtamudi Lake is a wetland site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention which is also known as the ‘Convention of Wetlands’.
The lake spread over an area of around 1,700 sq km and surrounded by swaying coconut groves and palm trees and spotted by several small islands, is preferred by tourists from around the world for houseboat rides.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar and PTI)
