Wed Apr 09 12:52:06 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Human Rights Commission Orders Urgent Canal and Lake Cleanup in Thiruvananthapuram

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, April 9, 2025** – The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has issued an order demanding immediate action to clean Thiruvananthapuram’s canal and lake systems before the southwest monsoon season arrives. The Commission, citing news reports, launched a suo motu case focusing on the city’s major canal networks and the Akkulam and Veli lake systems, which are reportedly clogged with garbage and water hyacinth.

Commission Chairman Alexander Thomas directed District Collector Anu Kumari to form a committee comprising representatives from the Irrigation department, Public Works department (PWD), Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, and inland navigation, to oversee the pre-monsoon cleanup. The committee is tasked with ensuring the effective cleaning of the Parvathy Puthanar canal network and preventing monsoon flooding. Specific instructions were given to address overflowing canals and stormwater drains.

The order mandates that the cleaning of the Parvathy Puthanar canal network be completed before the monsoon’s arrival in late May. Furthermore, separate reports on the cleanup of Akkulam and Veli lakes are required from the District Collector, Corporation secretary, and District Tourism Promotion Council within a month. The Collector is also instructed to convene meetings with relevant agencies and the police to identify those responsible for illegal waste dumping.

All involved officials are required to submit compliance reports within one month and attend a Commission hearing on May 6th. The Commission’s swift action underscores the urgency of addressing the environmental concerns posed by the clogged waterways before the monsoon season.

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