KOCHI: Amidst growing concerns over river pollution, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) teams have started inspecting the industrial units situated on the banks of the Periyar river.
The visit comes following the circuit bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order directing an inspection of all industrial units located on the banks of the Periyar river to check the feasibility of effluent treatment plants and to find out whether the effluents discharged into the river are within the prescribed parameter.
The lower reaches of the Periyar are often referred as cesspool of toxins. The Eloor- Edayar industrial area is home to at least 34 industries, with most of them alleged to be discharging toxic effluents into the river. According to environmentalists and researchers, lack of oxygen in water has caused fish deaths more than 25 times in the last two years in the river.
According to officials, three teams consisting of senior scientists and environmental engineers of the CPCB will conduct inspections of the industries. “The CPCB teams have started inspections. They are assisted by Kerala Pollution Control Board members. The inspections will be carried out in two phases- the first from October 18 to 22 and second from October 24 to 28,” said, M P Trideep Kumar, Environmental Engineer, Kerala State Pollution Control Board.
The NGT order was based on a petition filed by Green Action Force and Janajagrutha seeking measures for zero effluent discharge from industrial units in Eloor-Edayar industrial areas. Taking a dig at the PCB, the NGT then observed that ‘nobody can dispute the precarious position of the Periyar for the last several years as a consequence of the lethargic attitude of the PCB as well as the utter violation of the pollution control measures by the industries on the banks of the Periyar’.
Inspection necessary to ensure justice
The tribunal further observed that it was ‘necessary in the interest of justice to direct a team headed by a senior officer of the Central Pollution Control Board and senior officers of the State Pollution Control Board to inspect all the industries situated on the banks of the Periyar, to study the quantum of sewage and the effluents generated as well as the efficacy of the effluent treatment plant and also whether the effluents being discharged into the river were within the prescribed parameters’.
Although NGT initially directed CPCB to submit the report by September 29, Tribunal later extended the deadline after counsel for CPCB sought more time for the visit and preparation of the report.