The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has asked the District Collector to take stringent action against those depositing waste into the Conolly Canal and Kallai river and to use the help of the police if needed.

Responding to a complaint regarding the deplorable condition of the Kallai river by A.C. Francis, Judicial member of the commission, P. Mohanadas, asked the District Collector, Kozhikode Corporation and the nearby panchayats to set up warning boards against dumping of waste and to install CCTV cameras wherever necessary to check the violators. He asked the Corporation Secretary and the district police chief to take action against the violators.

The commission had sought a report on the issue from the District Collector in which he had stated that action was being taken to clear the encroachments in Kallai. However, opposition from a section of the local people and a High Court order had slowed down the action.

The commission asked the Collector to take steps to remove the waste and pollutants from the canal and the river as the two will soon be part of the National Waterway.