Kerala High Court Criticizes Central and State Governments Over Sewage Treatment Plant Delay
The Kerala High Court has strongly reprimanded both the central and state governments for allegedly engaging in a blame game regarding the establishment of a crucial sewage treatment plant (STP) for Kuzhikandam Thodu at Eloor, a tributary of the Periyar River. A bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha expressed deep frustration while hearing a batch of petitions related to the mass fish deaths in the Periyar River caused by severe pollution on May 20, 2024.
Court Warns of Impending Catastrophe
The court highlighted its exasperation with the manner in which government authorities are handling the transfer of property from Hindustan Insecticides Ltd (HIL) to the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) for setting up the STP. The bench emphasized that the lives of millions of people are at stake and declared that it cannot afford to wait for a full-blown environmental catastrophe to occur before taking decisive action.
Conflicting Claims and Lack of Urgency
During the proceedings, HIL stated that it is prepared to hand over the property as authorized by the Government of India, but insisted that the specific modalities for the transfer must be provided by the PCB. Conversely, the PCB submitted that it has not received any detailed modalities from either the Government of India or HIL. The state government, however, maintained that such suggestions had already been made and are documented in its report dated January 14, 2026.
The court questioned why the stakeholders do not appear to grasp the urgency of the situation. If they truly understood the critical nature of the matter, they would have taken additional proactive steps at every stage to ensure the construction of the STP begins without further delay, the bench remarked.
Court Issues Directives for Immediate Action
To break the deadlock, the High Court directed that a meeting be convened involving the environment department special secretary, the PCB chairperson, and Rohit Sehgal, the interim resolution professional (IRP) representing HIL. The purpose of this meeting is to formulate clear and actionable modalities for the transfer of the property to establish the sewage treatment plant. A detailed report of this meeting must be submitted and placed on record by February 19, 2026.
Larger Periyar River Issue Remains Unresolved
The court also clarified that its current directive pertains specifically to Kuzhikandam Thodu. The broader and more complex issue concerning the overall pollution and remediation of the Periyar River itself remains pending and continues to be a significant concern for the judiciary. This ongoing problem underscores the persistent environmental challenges facing the region and the need for comprehensive, coordinated efforts to protect vital water resources.
