Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation, which has embarked on a project to clean up major canals and water bodies in the city, has sought data from state
pollution control board regarding mode of processing
liquid waste in 33 different kind of institutions in the city which function close to water bodies mainly
Karamana River, Killi River,
Amayizhanjan canal and
Parvathy Puthanar.
The list also includes state and central government institutions like Airport Authority of India, KSRTC and special armed police camp quarters. The corporation had earlier slapped notice on KSRTC depot, Pappanamcode for discharging liquid waste into nearby canal.
It was also decided to issue notice to railways regarding discharge of waste into Amayizhanjan canal. Details have also been sought regarding liquid waste discharge and treatment at Medical College Hospital and Government Ayurveda College. Supreme Court had earlier made effluent treatment plants (ETPs) mandatory for industrial units and
PCB was directed to inspect industrial units pertaining to functioning of ETPs.
Nearly seven major hospitals, three apartment units, star hotels and service centres have also been included in the list. The corporation in one of its review meetings had decided to initiate prosecution activities against households, institutions and firms found polluting water bodies in the city.
The civic body has been spurred by the recent amendment introduced by the government which made pollution of water bodies a punishable offence.
The data collected by the health circles will be reviewed in the meeting scheduled on Saturday. The officials have also prepared detailed images using Google maps to identify location of various institutions close to water bodies and to monitor the processing of liquid waste in such firms.
The civic body had earlier cracked down on households which directed septage to water bodies. The first ever report submitted by various health circles on contamination of water bodies and parties responsible in the city showed that over 3,000 houses and close to 50 firms and institutions including central and state government run institutions direct solid and liquid waste into water bodies like Akkulam Lake, Karamana River, Killi River and Parvathy Puthanar in the city.
The civic body officials have already slapped notices on households as per section 340 of Kerala Municipality Act. The house owners were directed to make soak pits on the premises and prevent the outflow of liquid waste to water bodies. Fifteen days time period was given to the owners failing which they were told that they shall have to pay fine up to Rs 25,000.
Parvathy Puthanar
