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On January 7, 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the chief secretary of Kerala to submit a report detailing the measures implemented to protect the significant Ramsar sites, Ashtamudi Lake and Vembanad wetland, from deterioration and damage. Reply has to be filed by the Chief Secretary within three weeks.
The Chief Secretary was instructed to provide specifics and details regarding actions taken against industries or local bodies that are releasing pollutants into the lakes, as well as the water quality of Ashtamudi Lake.
Tribunal had earlier found that water quality of both water bodies is in Class ‘D’ of primary water quality criteria, thereby not complying with ‘bathing’ standards.
The Chief Secretary, Kerala was also directed to inform the status of utilisation of Rs 10 crore as compensation and for restoration. Further, what concrete actions have been taken to prevent sewage disposed in two water bodies through house boats, panchayats, corporations, industries, flat owners, resorts and others, the court asked.
Also, what are the achievements as per the action plan with time bound activities to be completed, the tribunal questionned. The case will next be heard on February 12, 2025.
NGT received a report from Justice A V Ramakrishna Pillai, Chairperson, State Level Monitoring Committee, Kerala reporting massive killing of fishes in Ashtamudi lake. The report depicted a very serious and pathetic condition of the Ashtamudi Lake, which is a Ramsar site, noted the court.
The Hasanpur-Lodha wetland is the largest wetland in NCR Delhi and is known as Hasanpur lake. The joint committee observed that the existing storm water drain network is inadequate due to which the overflow of the industrial drains gets accumulated on vacant industrial land, green belt. Therefore a complete replacement of the existing drains with a new storm water drainage network was suggested by the joint committee.
With respect to recording the area of the wetland, the revenue officials, Hapur carried out the demarcation of the Hasanpur lake falling within the jurisdiction of district Hapur on February 21, 2024. The joint committee observed that the domestic waste water coming from the household of the nearby two villages is being poured into the lake.
The report was filed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), January 9, 2025 to the National Green Tribunal. The matter related to pollution and encroachment of the Hasanpur-Lodha wetland.