The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stepped into action after reports surfaced linking well water to cases of deadly brain infections in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. The case involves Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but often fatal brain disease caused by the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri.
The NGT took suo motu notice, meaning it started investigating on its own after reading a media report titled “Well water could be source of infection for PAM cases.” A bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava registered the case, along with expert members Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, and Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee.
The media report says that three people are currently receiving treatment for the infection in Kozhikode. Among them is a three-month-old baby who is in critical condition, an 11-year-old girl, and a nine-year-old child who sadly lost their life due to the disease. The report also mentions that two of her siblings are showing fever and are being watched carefully by doctors.
Health officials found Naegleria fowleri in the well water at the home of the infant. This raises concerns that well water, along with pond water, might be spreading the infection. It is believed that the child could have been infected while bathing or during water contact.
The NGT pointed out that these events could be violations of environmental and water pollution laws, specifically the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It has asked authorities including the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Kerala’s Health Department, and local officials to respond with detailed reports.
The tribunal has warned that if any of these authorities submit their replies directly without proper legal procedures, they may be considered present in court to assist the case. The next hearing for this sensitive issue is scheduled for October 9 at the Southern Zonal Bench in Chennai.
This case highlights the importance of safe water practices and the need for better regulation and monitoring to prevent deadly infections like PAM from spreading in Kerala and beyond.
