KOCHI: “Potable water is the birthright of every human being and it is the responsibility of the government to make sufficient water available for the people,’’ Syro Malabar Church head Mar George Cardinal Alencherry has said. He was inaugurating a hunger strike organised by Collective for Right to Live, a group of various organisations that came together against the pollution in the Periyar and other water bodies, at High Court Junction on Wednesday to observe the World Water Day.
‘’The government should stop helping corporates and initiate steps to preserve the Periyar which is the lifeline of around 40 lakh people in the district. People of Kochi are most affected by diseases such as cancer and kidney failures. The reason for this is the ingestion of polluted food and water. Instead of spending money on the healthcare sector, the government should to initiate steps to prevent people from becoming patients,’’ he said.
Rights activist M Geethanandan said politicians and the Pollution Control Board should display the will to take action to prevent corporate giants from polluting the Periyar further. ‘’The pollution has already crossed the limit. Now, the government should shoulder the responsibility of protecting us,” he said.
Former MP Sebastian Paul said preaching, rallies and awareness campaigns on water conservation have not borne fruit. ‘’Water bodies are contaminated with untreated toxic substances released from factories near rivers. Rivers are not just a source of water, they represent our culture and tradition too,’’ said.
“Periyar is polluted by not just by industries, but by humans also. It is strange to note people are not concerned even when their surroundings are getting polluted,’’ he said.