Irked by the worsening pollution of the ecologically vulnerable Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Environment) to appear in person with an action-taken report on restoring the waterbodies to their original state at the next sitting scheduled for January 6, 2023.
Taking serious note of the increasing discharge of sewage and solid waste affecting the ecosystem of the lakes, the Principal Bench led by its Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel said remedial action taken was inadequate. “Further action needs to be taken in mission mode with the involvement of authorities at a higher level,” said an order issued by the Bench on August 24.
