KOCHI: Thanks to the authorities’ resolute refusal to clean up the Periyar, an incident of fish kill on Wednesday was reported from the mighty river yet again. In the latest incident, several varieties of fish, including the shrimp and pearl spot, were found floating near the Pathalam Eloor Bund. Greens said the latest incident of fish kill proves even after the series of study reports and recommendations, the river remains highly polluted. The dead fish was found near the Pathalam regulator cum bridge on Wednesday morning.
“The industrial units were discharging huge quantities of effluents into the river when the shutters of the regulator cum bridge were opened on Wednesday morning. The people too noticed effluents from industrial units flowing downstream. Though the matter was brought to the attention of officers, including the Pollution Control Board(PCB) office and tahsildar, no one turned up,” said the environmentalists.
The shutters which were opened at 9 am were closed at 11.15 am following protests from the public. According to the people, during the two days when the shutters were opened, waste materials in different colours were dumped into the water. “Rubber, bone waste and a mixture of other chemicals were there in the water. There was a putrid smell also.
The commuters found it difficult to pass through the area because of the overpowering stench emanating from the Pathalam bund and depot areas. Though the area is facing severe pollution, the Pollution Board authorities did not found it necessary to visit the area,” they said.
A PCB officer, though, said samples had been collected. “We were not able to detect the presence of deadly chemicals. However, the waste materials dumped by the public would have got stuck near the bund. When they opened the bund, these materials entered the river,” he said.