PCB clueless on source of dumping of chemicals

About 2.48 crore litres of effluents generated by nearly 55 industrial units in Eloor and Edayar are let out into the Periyar River daily after primary treatment, against the prescribed norm of ‘zero discharge’ by industries to prevent pollution of rivers. According to the official data available with the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, there are 270 industrial units in the Eloor and Edayar region.

PCB clueless on source of illegal dumping of chemicals

About 2.48 crore litres of effluents generated by nearly 55 industrial units in Eloor and Edayar are let out into the Periyar River daily after primary treatment, against the prescribed norm of ‘zero discharge’ by industries to prevent pollution of rivers. According to the official data available with the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, there are 270 industrial units in the Eloor and Edayar region.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday suggested that no polluting and chemical industries be allowed to be constructed in the Edayar-Eloor areas and a permanent check dam be built to prevent pollution of drinking water sources in the Periyar. The Bench directed the State government to express its views on these proposals.

The Bench, comprising Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice C.K. Abdul Rehim, issued the directive on a writ petition filed by the Eloor Malineekarana Virudha Samithi.

The district administration’s decision to close down 15 sand mining ghats came as a bolt from the blue for around 5000 sand mining labourers, who are now left in the lurch, struggling every day to

The Kerala government was continuing to prevent free movement of construction materials required to fill up holes in the Mullaperiyar dam, said Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko here on Thursday.

Be it a water dispute or an environmental issue that affected people of Tamil Nadu, the MDMK stood in the forefront and turned it into a people's movement, he said.

Real time data to be displayed near monitoring stations

The State Pollution Control Board hopes to set up continuous (online) ambient air and water quality monitoring stations along the Periyar River within a month. The objective of the initiative is to scientifically analyse the source of pollution of the river besides ascertaining those responsible for such incidents. Board Chairman K. Sajeevan told The Hindu that work on establishing the stations is fast progressing. “We expect to complete the work within a month. All analysers will work round-the-clock. Real time data will be displayed at prominent public places near each station, he said.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The draft project report on the three new eco-tourism centres of Kakki, Anathode and Moozhiyar is ready for approval of the Forest Department authorities.

The Union government has decided to protect one major river in the State on the lines of the Ganga Action Plan.

The State government has been asked to submit a proposal to conserve one major river in the State, such as Periyar, which has been badly polluted, said K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. Talking on the sidelines of a national seminar on food safety, organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards here on Monday, Prof. Thomas said the issue of drinking water pollution should be addressed at the source of the pollution of the water body.

KOCHI: The District Collector has ordered the setting up of an empowered committee to recommend long-term programmes for the conservation of the Periyar river. The committee will consist of engineers, green activists and members from the panchayat.

“A number of studies on the river have been undertaken, however, none of them focused on the projects that can be taken up for its conservation. This committee will specifically focus on the projects that can be implemented in the area. The committee will also draw upon the earlier studies on the river,” said District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth.

KOCHI: Ending a long delay in setting up the bridge cum regulator project across the Periyar River at Pathalam and Purappillikkavu, the irrigation department has finally fixed the dates for opening tenders.

The prequalification tenders for setting up the Pathalam bridge will be opened on Monday. At a time when fish deaths is becoming a frequent phenomenon in Periyar, the ambitious project which could have been a permanent solution in containing the issue of fish deaths, has been facing an inordinate delay.