The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Kerala Environment department for its failure to submit a proper report on the action taken to protect the banks of the Bharathapuzha and rebuild its riparian habitat.
The Additional Chief Secretary had submitted a report dated September 1, 2022 as part of the suo motu case registered by the tribunal based on media reports that human interference, including burning of dry grassland, was taking a toll on the lifeline of the river.
“With regret, we have to record that this report does not mention about any of the decisions taken, though the order of this tribunal was to submit a half-yearly progress report. It is apparent that there is no progress for them to report,” said an order issued by the Bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati on September 5.
