Report filed on behalf of the state of Kerala before the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench in Original Application No. 502/2022 filed by Padmakumar.

Padmakumar, a resident of Kollam district had sent an application to the NGT alleging that Kerala Minerals and Metals, a chemical industry in Kerala is polluting the land and water bodies of nearby villages for about 30 years by discharging acid water.

The matter related to the working of M/s Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML), a public sector undertaking. Titanium dioxide pigment unit of the company was commissioned in 1984.

The NGT vide order dated August 29, 2022 constituted a joint committee to file a factual and action taken report and to send the copies of the report of the joint committee to the project proponent and statutory authorities.

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The committee conducted site inspection and collected samples for analysis.

The site visit analysis report said that the stagnant water samples collected from the nearby areas of industry show acidic pH and presence of heavy metals. "It is understood that the nearby area is polluted and the well water is not fit for drinking purpose".

The storm water sample of the industry show acidic pH and presence of iron, manganese and vanadium which implies that the land inside the industry is either polluted or there is a possibility of leakage or spillage of iron oxide sludge into nearby area including Vattakayal (Kayamkulam and Pullikkal wetland complex).

The treated effluent sample from the industry shows total suspended solids and heavy metals above the limit specified which implies that the present treatment system is not adequate enough to comply with the effluent discharge standards and requires upgradation.