NGT faults Kerala PCB over inadequate Kadambrayar pollution control plan

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reprimanded the Kerala Pollution Control Board (PCB) for failing to provide a thorough report on steps being taken to mitigate pollution in the Kadambrayar river. The tribunal's rebuke came after it examined the agency's response to concerns raised about the river's environmental status.

The NGT had previously taken cognizance of reports highlighting the deteriorating condition of the Kadambrayar river, prompting the bench to call for concrete remedial measures from state authorities. However, upon reviewing the PCB's submission, the tribunal found the agency's response lacked the necessary detail and comprehensiveness required to address the scale of pollution challenges.

The southern bench has now directed the Kerala PCB to submit a more complete and detailed action plan outlining specific interventions and timelines for pollution control. The tribunal emphasized the need for systematic monitoring and implementation of measures to restore the river's ecological health.

This development underscores ongoing concerns about river pollution in Kerala and the need for more rigorous environmental oversight and enforcement by regulatory bodies. The NGT's intervention highlights the tribunal's role in ensuring that state pollution control agencies fulfill their mandate to protect water bodies from industrial and other forms of contamination.