In a significant move, the Kerala High Court has placed direct responsibility on the state's top water resources official to ensure the safety of residents in a coastal panchayat vulnerable to severe erosion. The court's order aims to prevent any loss of life or property due to the absence of adequate protective coastal structures.
Court Fixes Responsibility on Bureaucrat
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice V M Syam Kumar, issued this directive while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The PIL was filed by E K Saliharan and four other residents of Edavanakkad grama panchayat in Ernakulam district. The petitioners had sought judicial intervention to direct authorities to construct and maintain a seawall across three wards, covering a critical coastal stretch of approximately 2.4 kilometers.
Background and Official Reports
During earlier proceedings, the court had directed the Ernakulam District Collector to convene a meeting of all stakeholders and submit a report. The collector's report highlighted the urgent need for action, emphasizing the mobilization of funds and the expediting of administrative procedures to build the necessary seawall in the erosion-prone area.
In response, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department filed an affidavit outlining the standard administrative processes and the typical timeframe required under normal circumstances. After examining both documents, the High Court expressed that it was left with no alternative but to assign clear accountability for the project's progress and the community's safety.
Order and Future Course of Action
The bench has now squarely placed the onus on the Additional Chief Secretary to guarantee that no damage occurs from the lack of a strengthened seawall. Furthermore, the court has permitted the petitioners to approach it again with a fresh application if any further directions are necessary to ensure compliance. This judicial order underscores the pressing need to address coastal and soil erosion in vulnerable regions like Edavanakkad, moving beyond routine bureaucratic processes to secure tangible, timely results for at-risk communities.
