Affidavit filed by the Amballoor Grama Panchayat on Konothupuzha river pollution, Ernakulam, Kerala, 23/10/2020
Affidavit filed by the Amballoor Grama Panchayat in the matter of Manakunnam village Padashekara Samrakshana Samithy Vs Thripunithura Municipality & Others (Application No. 237 of 2017) dated 23/10/2020.
The Amballoor Grama Panchayat, Kanjiramattom, Ernakulam filed a report with the National Green Tribunal on the illegal encroachment, pollution of Konothupuzha river, which flows through Nadama, Manakunnam villages, Kanayannoor taluk in Ernakulam district in Kerala. The report was in response to the interim order passed by the NGT on January 24, 2020.
The government of Kerala formed a Joint Committee and prepared an action plan to stop the pollution of Konothupuzha river and to revive the river. The Committee was entrusted to take the necessary steps in this regard. A meeting of the Committee was convened on June 15, 2020 with the District Collector as the Chairman.
It was decided that the services of the surveyors should be utilized to determine the boundaries of Konothupuzha river. However, the survey would depend on when the local self-government institutions deposit the expenses to conduct the survey.
Accordingly, the Deputy Director of Survey prepared an estimate and the Amballoor Grama Panchayat has transferred the amount conducted to survey the extent of Konothupuzha river within its limit to the Department of Survey on August 11, 2020. On completion of the survey procedures by the Department of Survey, the encroachments in the Purampoke lands if any would be evicted in accordance with the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, 1957. Parallel to these measures, steps have been taken by the Minor Irrigation Department to remove the wastes from Konothupuzha river.