Periyar's Plea: Kerala High Court Blasts Bureaucratic Blame Game in River Clean-up

In a powerful and unequivocal rebuke, the Kerala High Court has sharply criticized the glaring lack of cooperation between the Central and State governments, deeming their efforts to clean up the ecologically vital Periyar River as woefully inadequate. Justice Devan Ramachandran, overseeing the ongoing legal battle for the river's restoration, expressed profound dismay at what he described as a perpetual 'passing of the buck' – a bureaucratic stalemate that threatens the very lifeblood of Kerala.

The Periyar, often referred to as the lifeline of millions across Kerala, faces an existential crisis.

Decades of unchecked industrial discharge, urban waste, and agricultural runoff have transformed stretches of this once pristine river into a toxic cesspool. Despite numerous pledges, committees, and even judicial directives, concrete action remains frustratingly elusive, prompting the High Court's stern intervention.

Justice Ramachandran did not mince words, highlighting the severe implications of this 'slack cooperation.' He emphasized that while financial allocations and technical expertise might be available, the absence of a unified, concerted approach between Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram is rendering these resources moot.

This administrative inertia, the court noted, is not merely a procedural hiccup; it directly imperils the health, livelihood, and environmental future of countless citizens dependent on the river.

The court's observations stem from a series of petitions, most notably from the Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi (Anti-Pollution Committee), which has tirelessly advocated for the river's salvation.

These pleas underscore a deep-seated public frustration with the slow pace of governmental response. The High Court itself had, as far back as 2010, issued comprehensive directives for a holistic clean-up strategy, yet the progress since then has been painstakingly slow, prompting the recent judicial outburst.

The ongoing dialogue between various departments, often characterized by finger-pointing rather than collaboration, has created a bureaucratic quagmire.

The court pointed out that if both the Central and State entities genuinely committed to a shared vision, overcoming administrative hurdles would be a manageable task. Instead, the focus has shifted from environmental stewardship to departmental jurisdiction, leaving the Periyar to suffer in silence.

This latest judicial pronouncement serves as a critical wake-up call, urging both levels of government to transcend political and administrative boundaries for the sake of a shared natural heritage.

The High Court's message is clear: the health of the Periyar River cannot be sacrificed at the altar of bureaucratic inefficiency. It demands immediate, decisive, and collaborative action to avert an ecological catastrophe that looms large over the 'God's Own Country.'