The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has swung into action to check throwing of clothes in the Pampa river by pilgrims returning from Sabarimala.
Talking to The Hindu , Paulus Eapen, District Environmental Engineer, said the PCB had deployed staff at Pampa Manalpuram on the directions of K. Babu, Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court, to prevent pilgrims from polluting the Pampa by dumping clothes. The High Court had issued an order a few weeks ago, declaring the act of throwing clothes in the Pampa a criminal offence. The court said the relevant provisions in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act-1974 should be invoked against those polluting the river thus.
Mr. Eapen said the Special Commissioner was insisting on registering criminal cases against pilgrims flouting the court order. The PCB would launch a campaign at the Pampa bathing ghats and surrounding areas to make the pilgrims aware of the criminal offence and the ill-effects of throwing clothes in the river. He said National Service Scheme volunteers too would be pressed into service for the awareness campaign.
