₹69 Lakh Fine Imposed for Illegal Sewage Dumping in Vembanad, Ashtamudi Lakes

Fast Summary

• Local bodies along Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes imposed penalties totaling ₹69.23 lakh (March 2023-May 2025) for illegal sewage discharge into Ramsar-protected sites.
• Over 2,000 illegal sewage outlets were sealed; more than 500 institutions lacked operational sewage treatment plants (STPs).
• Seventy non-compliant units were shut down for environmental norm violations, per a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal on July 15, 2025.
• Authorities conducted 12,199 inspections, collected ₹12.24 lakh of the imposed fines, and found 194 STPs non-functional among establishments inspected.
• Pre-monsoon cleaning drives since March 2023 cleared 385 tonnes of waste and cleaned 1,281 km of canals/drains.
• A three-tier monitoring system has been established wiht local-, district-, and block-level enforcement squads to prevent further pollution.
• Measures taken include bio-digesters, greywater treatment systems, soak pits for wastewater management in houseboats and institutions.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The enforcement measures undertaken by local authorities signal growing urgency in addressing pollution in ecologically significant waterbodies like Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes. The imposition of penalties-and the sealing or shutdowns of erring establishments-highlights accountability efforts; however, gaps remain evident from low fine recovery rates (only about ₹12.24 lakh collected) and inactive sewage treatment infrastructure.

The multi-pronged strategy involving inspections, waste removal drives, public cleanups, monitoring squads at various levels, and long-term project implementation underscores how systemic intervention is needed to protect these Ramsar sites from degradation caused primarily by untreated wastewater discharge. Expediting sustainable initiatives like greywater systems or bio-digesters will be critical as these actions are expected to benefit both ecological health and community livelihoods tied to lake tourism over time.

Read more: Published – July 17, 2025