THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has pulled up Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for emptying a pond for beautification purposes when the state is in the grip of acute water scarcity. It was two years ago that work on beautification of the Vazhambachira pond in Mannanthala began.
A few months ago, the contractor who was entrusted with the job emptied the pond to remove the sludge but the work came to a halt.
Water in Vazhambachira pond, spread over an area of 1.5 acres, was being used by the local people for bathing and irrigation purposes. After the pond was emptied, wells in the surrounding areas also went dry.
Commission acting chairperson P Mohanadas directed the Secretary of the Corporation, executive engineer of Pollution Control Board and the District Collector to inquire into the incident and submit an explanation within three weeks.
The Commission also directed the Corporation secretary to take urgent steps to complete the maintenance work of the pond.
The rights panel’s action came in the wake of a complaint from V S Bimal from Mannanthala.