Date:30/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/30/stories/2008063055810100.htm

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CBI probe into Periyar pollution mooted

Special Correspondent

CALLING ATTENTION: Frequent changes have been noticed in the colour of the Periyar waters.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Legislature Committee on Environment has recommended that a specialised police agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should probe the pollution of the Periyar.

The committee, in a special report submitted to the Assembly recently, said the probe would show whether there was criminal conspiracy behind the continuing pollution of the river.

The committee reiterated that its earlier recommendation to form a statutory Periyar River Authority to oversee that pollution control measures are carried out without delay. It suggested that an expert committee be constituted to inquire into reasons for the frequent change in the colour of the river water, especially near the Aluva industrial belt. The committee should be asked to suggest recommendations to solve the problem.

The Principal Secretary (Water Resources) had informed the committee that the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), which sources drinking water from the river, had been cautioned about the pollution of the river. However, the colour change was occurring below the pumping station of the KWA.

The committee observed that water colour had changed on more than 200 occasions during the last 10 years. There was reduction in the frequency of their occurrence when the monitoring committee of the Supreme Court was functioning in Kochi. If the colour change noticed in December last year was due to tidal wave, it should have occurred on both arms of the river. However, the change was noticed only in the distributory flowing through the industrial area.

The board had directed that the companies discharging effluents into the river should have their drainage lines above the water level so that they could be identified easily. Large industrial units should have delay ponds and equipment to monitor effluent standards. Necessary repairs should be carried out in the effluent treatment plants.