THE SECRETARY, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Vs. DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LOCAL FUND AUDIT TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) TDB Report No.54/2012 filed by the learned Ombudsman is perused. Permission as sought for is granted. Expenditure incurred will be subjected to audit. Looking into the report and the need to have shower points, we have also given our anxious consideration to the management of the bathing guard and ensuring quality of water in the Pamba river and Erumeli Thodu. It appears that for Pettathullal, different colours of paints are used by the pilgrims to paint and decorate themselves in connection with 'Pettathullal'. It is a matter of science that if high amount of Lead and other elements goes into the waterways, that will hurt the environment and create hazardous situation for potable water and also to the nearby lands. It will also adversely affect the flora and fauna. Many of the animals may access the rivers and thodu for drinking water. Beyond all that is the human requirement to have the water properly maintained by preventing unnecessary pollution. We therefore direct the Pollution Control Board and the State Government, including different departments to immediately bring out guidelines and standards for any coloring materials that could be used in connection with the 'Pettathullal' and festivities in Pamba, Sannidhanam, Erumeli and elsewhere. The use of such paints cannot be permitted if it would ultimately lead to uncontrolled pollution of water and environment. Such guidelines shall be placed without fail at the earliest and it will be given effect to in full swing from the next season onwards.

(2.) IT is also noticed that in the course of removal of the colouring substances after the 'Pettathullal', enormous quantity of Shampoo and other liquid soaps in sachets are used resulting in large scale accumulation of used sachet/ plastic covers in the waters in Erumeli Thodu and Pamba. They may either sediments or rent down and make the entire water polluted even irritably because such materials are non -biodegradable. It is therefore directed that the Pollution Control Board and the State Government, including all the departments would consider forthwith the requirement to provide ban/regulations on use of such materials as part of the management of the environment since that should be the top priority for managing such places where people congregate in large numbers and the brittle environmental situations calls for effective management of the forest and her waters. The State Government and the Pollution Control Board are directed to file an affidavit of compliance of this direction, without fail before the Registrar General on or before 25.7.2012. DBP Ordered accordingly.