In a bid to reduce pollution in Kappithode, one of the highly polluted waterbodies in Ambalappuzha taluk, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has mooted mobile waste-water treatment plants for peeling sheds and meat-processing centres on the banks of the canal.
Officials said that each mobile unit would cost around ₹20-25 lakh and peeling sheds and meat-processing centres could pool in money and buy a unit.
“We have conducted a technology demonstration for the owners of these factories. The units work on two different concepts. One plant has technologies like centrifugation, sedimentation, filtration and ultra filtration and is better suited for meat-processing centres. The second plant has electro-coagulation, sedimentation and filtration technologies, which can be used for treating waste generated in peeling sheds. The plants are vehicle mounted and easily transportable,” said Biju B., Environmental Engineer, KSPCB.
According to officials, pollution is mainly due to solid and liquid wastes being dumped in the canal from fish-peeling sheds and meat-processing centres. There are 32 peeling sheds and all of them deposit their waste in the waterbody, making the 14.5-km canal highly polluted.
As per a study conducted by the KSPCB, effluent from peeling sheds, meat-processing units, Government Medical College, Alappuzha, and household waste reach the canal. The study revealed the presence of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia in the canal.
Since 1983
The pollution of the canal first came to light in 1983 after a few students of Government Lower Primary School, Ambalappuzha, situated by the side of the canal, fell ill after inhaling poisonous gases that emanated from the canal.
The court had issued directives to control pollution and to take steps to ensure flow of water in the canal. Although the KSPCB and other agencies have tried to clean the canal and prevent pollution, nothing has come to fruition. The State government has mooted a ₹21 crore project for cleaning the canal, but is yet to receive approval from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.
Kappithode, originating from Chungom in Alappuzha municipality, flows through Punnapra North, Punnapra South, Ambalappuzha North and Ambalappuzha South grama panchayats before emptying into the Pookaitha river.