The Pampa Parirakshana Samiti (PPS) that has been campaigning for the cause of the Pampa for the past three decades has welcomed the Kerala High Court direction to invoke the relevant provisions in the Water Act of 1974 against those who pollute the river by throwing clothes into it.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, N.K. Sukumaran Nair, PPS general secretary, said that sections 24 and 25 of the Water Act said that no waste should be drained out into water sources. As per section 44 and 45, those who violated this could get simple imprisonment for six to 18 months, besides fine up to Rs.10,000.
Mr. Nair said the court direction was also a warning to those who were responsible for polluting the river from its origin to the confluence.
He said the Pampa was the main water source of as many as five million people residing in the river basin as well as Kuttanad.
He also called upon the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board to initiate stern action to check pollution of the river.
Mr. Nair said pilgrims from outside the State threw their clothes into the river on their return from Sabarimala due to a false belief or superstition. The authorities should set up a large fire place on the river banks for the pilgrims to deposit the clothes as a practical solution to the problem.
