KOCHI: The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has initiated stringent measures, including notice to disconnect power supply, to 71 old residential flats in Kochi for failing to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) on their premises.
The move, especially, the issuance of power disconnection notice from KSEB, which acted on the direction of KSPCB, comes nearly a month after it issued closure notices to the flat owners, triggering panic among the residents.
Earlier on June 23, the Kerala High Court issued detailed directions to the KSPCB and the Kochi Corporation to issue notices to entities responsible for polluting the Thevara-Perandoor Canal in the city. The directions were passed in a suo motu proceedings initiated by the High Court in 2022.
“With reference to the direction issued by the KSPCB under Section 33 A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, this is to inform you that KSEB Ltd has been instructed to disconnect the electricity supply ... to non-compliance with statutory requirements,” read the notice dated July 30 received by the secretary of an Edappally-based flat complex.
“The associations have been trying hard to comply with the legal requirements, ie, setting up of STPs. However, what we request is to allocate us more time, say five months. Also, most of them do not have any free land available.
They have to demolish other existing structures to make space available for the construction of STP. The closure notices were sent to the flats constructed before 2010, when the mandatory norms regarding STPs were not in force,” Abraham Joseph, chairman, Consortium of Flat & Villa Owners Association (Kerala), told TNIE.
“The residents associations are in various stages of implementing the STP and have communicated the matter to KSPCB and KMC. We request the agencies to inform the honourable court of the practical difficulties and allot us more time to comply with the direction,” he added.
When contacted, KSPCB chairperson Dr S Shreekala refused to comment, citing that the issue is before the consideration of the court.
Meanwhile, a senior health official of Kochi corporation said the municipal body is taking separate action.
“We’ve issued notices to over 120 individuals so far for “illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the Perandoor-Thevara Canal. Many of the owners are taking rectification measures, mainly setting up treatment plants. We’ve been directed to cancel the occupancy certificate of those failing to take the corrective measures,” the official said.
Both KSPCB and Kochi corporation are parties to the case. “The associations have been trying hard to comply with the legal requirements. The necessary funds for STP construction have to be collected from the owners. Many associations are facing financial constraints and need more time for the collection of funds.
The associations of old flats are managed by senior citizens and most of the apartments are occupied by tenants. This makes collection of funds from owners even more difficult as they are not staying in the building. Many owners are NRIs.
However, instead of understanding their problems and giving reasonable time for STP implementation, and supporting the residential associations in the activities, the authorities concerned are taking drastic steps causing a lot of hardships to thousands of residents of these buildings,” Abraham Joseph rued.
HC pulls up entities polluting canal
Earlier on June 23, the Kerala High Court issued detailed directions to the KSPCB and the Kochi Corporation to issue notices to entities responsible for polluting the Thevara-Perandoor Canal in the city