Southern States - Kerala

Eloor residents complain of industrial pollution

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI MAY 22. Hundreds of Eloor residents who participated in the Indian People's Tribunal (IPT) on Environment and Human Rights (IPT) sitting held here today accused the industrial units of causing pollution in the area.

The IPT sitting was held as part of the inquiry into the pollution caused by industrial units in the Eloor-Edayar industrial area. Majority of the residents complained that they suffered from various health problems due to the pollution from the Merchem company in Eloor.

The residents alleged that factories including the HIL, IRE and FACT were also causing pollution in the area, Purushan Eloor of the Periyar Malineekarana Virudha samithy, said in a communication here today.

The Commission members, Sunitha Dube, Reshma and Saina Mary of the Primary Health Centre, later held discussions with women residing in Eloor.

Those who appeared before the commission said that industrial pollution was responsible for increasing incidence of health disorders in the area. Participants also said that the dumping of poisonous effluents had contaminated water resources in Eloor.

The inquiry team led by Justice K. Sukumaran visited Kuzhikandam creek and other affected areas as part of the investigation.

Other commission members included N.Chandramohan, Head, Chemical Oceanography Department, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Sunita Dube (Environment Justice International), Reshma (Toxic Links) and Sunil Scaria, IPT Co-ordinator.

K.V.Indulal, member secretary, State Pollution Control Board, the environmentalists C.M.Joy, D.B.Binu, T.R.Rajesh, Zacheer Hussain, Anwar, Purushan Eloor and Jacob participated.

The IPT sitting will be held at Varapuzha panchayat office tomorrow and at Edayar Government High School on May 24.

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