Punishment for polluting water resources made harsher

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government today decided to enhance punishment for those who pollute water resources in the state. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan resolved to bring in an ordinance to make necessary amendments in this regard to The Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act.

Governor P Sathasivam has been asked to promulgate the ordinance. The cabinet approved a draft legislation with offenders punishable with an imprisonment of three years or a fine of Rs two lakh.

As per the existing law, offenders are punishable with a fine of between Rs.25000 to Rs.10,000 and an imprisonment of six months. The cabinet also approved a project report to avail a Rs 100 crore financial assistance from the National Cooperative Development Corporation for modernising the coir sector in the state.