Kochi: The National Green Tribunal has asked the state to file a status report on drainage in the entire state and the steps taken by it in the wake of the Supreme Court directions.
The NGT expressed surprise that the problem of drainage had been persisting in the state for the last several years.
As per the state government, there is an order of the Supreme Court for taking steps regarding the drainage. But unfortunately, it has not been obeyed fully, the NGT observed.
A two-member bench comprising judicial member Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member R. Nagendran was considering a plea filed by the president, Green Garden Residents Association, Kakkanad.
The bench impleaded the chief secretary and the State Pollution Control Board in the case.
The petitioner sought a directive to restrain a hotel in Kochi from discharging sewage and effluent directly into a pond or any public places.
The bench observed that there were materials to show that the hotel had been disposing of the untreated effluents into the water body.
The hotel, however, said that a building constructed for housing the employees had been dismantled and that no untreated effluents had been discharged into the pond.
The petitioner alleged that the action of hotel amounted to violation of all laws.
