KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the Chief Secretary and the Environment Principal Secretary to explain why the state decided to challenge one of its order regarding the establishment of septage treatment plants. A Division Bench comprising Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice K Vinod Chandran had directed the State Government to take steps to set up plants in every district on a petition filed by advocate R Sudha. After this an interim order was passed appointing an advocate commissioner for studying the feasibility of a pilot project for a septage treatment plant at Brahmapuram. The government after accepting the report of the advocate commissioner challenged the interim order before the Supreme Court.The court severely criticised the state for moving the Supreme Court and asked the secretaries to file separate affidavits to explain on whose advice and decision the special leave petition was filed. The Advocate General on July had submitted that immediate steps would be taken to execute the proposal for a plant at Brahmapuram. The court asked the state to file whether the AG’s advice was sought before filing the petition. The court also asked the Chief Secretary to file the litigation policy, if any, before the court. The court observed that the state or the municipal authorities had not provided any mechanism for collecting, storing or treating toilet waste. It was reported that septage was being transported in tanker lorries and dumped at night in rivers, backwaters and public vacant lands causing pollution. The court pointed out that despite many orders, the authorities did not take any steps to set up the treatment facility. Nobody has ever bothered to find out where sepatge is being dumped, the court said.
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