Garbage should be removed immediately from Amayizhanchan canal: High Court

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the Railways, the state government and the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to clear garbage from the Amayizhanchan canal in Thiruvananthapuram as soon as possible. The division bench comprising Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice P Gopinath said that it is pointless for the Corporation and the Railway to place blame on one another over the issue.

The court asked the District Collector, Railways and the Corporation to submit a report on how to remove the garbage, including plastic. The Corporation was added as a party to the petition. The court held a special sitting to consider the matter following the death of Joy, who drowned while cleaning the Amayizhanchan canal.

The court appointed three lawyers of the High Court as amicus curiae to submit a report on the garbage problem in various places in Thiruvananthapuram city, including Kochuveli. The team headed by Adv.TV Vinu has been directed to visit the places by July 19. Railways, the state government and Thiruvananthapuram Corporation should bear the remuneration of the three lawyers. The amicus curiae should communicate with officials of the old Operation Anantha, which was devised to resolve the waterlogging in the city. The bench observed that what happened in Thiruvananthapuram could also happen at other railway stations in the state.

The Corporation informed the court that it had written letters to the Railways on May 17 and June 19 to remove the garbage from the canal running through the Railways' land. The government said that it had called a meeting on April 1 with the participation of the Railways. The court will consider the case again on July 26.

Railways should remove garbage: Court

1. The court directed that the Railways should remove the garbage from the place where the canal passes through the land of the Railways

2. The Corporation should ensure that plastic materials do not flow to this region.

3. An action plan should be prepared for waste disposal. The government should supervise this. The details of garbage disposal in Thiruvananthapuram city should be reported to the court.