Kadambrayar River pollution: PCB seeks action-taken report from Thrikkakara municipality

Inspections carried out by PCB revealed that the illegal discharge of untreated sewage from the areas under the civic body continued to be a significant source of pollution in the Kadambrayar River.

Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has asked the Thrikkakara municipality to submit an action-taken report on the remedial measures initiated to check the pollution of the Kadambrayar River.

Inspections carried out by the board had revealed that the illegal discharge of untreated sewage from the areas under the civic body continued to be a significant source of pollution in the Kadambrayar River.

The agency had issued a notice to the civic body under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, seeking details of the steps taken to rejuvenate the water body. Kadambrayar is among the 32 polluted river stretches identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the State.

Rashid Ullampilly, chairperson of the Thrikkakara municipality, said that steps have been initiated to set up a sewage treatment plant capable of processing one million litres daily on suitable land in Infopark. We have also envisaged a comprehensive waste management facility, which includes solid and liquid waste management plants, as part of the proposed Green Park project. A few land parcels have been identified as part of this project, he said.

Officials of the municipality said that they have imposed penalties on those responsible for illegal dumping of garbage into the water bodies. The apartment complexes, which lacked adequate waste treatment facilities, have also been told to plug the gaps, they said.

The board officials said that the municipality has been told to furnish the details of the notices issued to the apartment complexes that lacked such facilities. The authorities have also been directed to provide an update on the number of surveillance cameras installed to check for illegal dumping of waste into the Kadambrayar. They have been told to submit the details of the locations and the operational status of the surveillance cameras.

Officials of the Local Self- Government department said that directions were issued to the local bodies, including Kochi Corporation, Thrikkakara municipality, and Edathala, Kunnathunadu and Kizhakkambalam grama panchayats, to impose penalties and initiate further legal proceedings against those responsible for the pollution of the Kadambrayar. The secretaries were told to ensure the installation of sewage treatment plants to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater, they said.