Kerala deposits ₹335 crore in ring-fenced account for waste management projects
The Hindu
Kerala government has deposited about ₹335 crore to a separate, ring-fenced account of the Department of Local Self-Governments towards setting up common sewage and faecal treatment plants to check pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, among other projects.
The Kerala government has deposited about ₹335 crore to a separate, ring-fenced account of the Department of Local Self-Governments towards setting up common sewage and faecal treatment plants to check pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, among other projects.
The decision is a follow-up of the order issued by the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi in March 2023 imposing a penalty of ₹10 crore on the Kerala government for its failure to check indiscriminate pollution of the lakes, listed as Ramsar sites.
In an additional report filed before the tribunal, the Secretary, Environment department, informed that an amount of ₹335.45 crore has been ring-fenced to the account in the name of Principal Director, Local Self-Government department, in the government treasury at Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram. It submitted the details of the projects and the funds earmarked by the local bodies/authorities concerned.
About ₹304 crore has been ring-fenced towards setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, which is the implementing agency.
The project envisages setting up STPs and sewer lines at Muttar, Perandoor, Vennala, and Elamkulam.
The government had already sought assistance from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for the projects with a total cost of around ₹1,423 crore.
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