KOZHIKODE: The Iqra international hospital and research centre at Malaparambu uses treated sewage water on the hospital premises for vegetable cultivation. However, the locals led by the BJP have opposed it saying that the water was not treated and that the contaminated water would harm the environment.
Protesting against the BJP stand, some 1,000 people comprising the hospital staff and their families took out a march to the collectorate on Tuesday seeking the collector’s permission to use the treated water for cultivation.
“We are producing approximately one lakh litres of treated water a day. The sewage water is being treated and used for vegetation as per the recommendations of the Pollution Control Board. Non-usage of the water will lead to a flood as we receive daily 250 inpatients,” said Mr E.K. Remzy, the front office manager of the hospital. He claimed that garden works were going on and soon the water would be used for gardening also.
The BJP had blocked the Wayanad road on November 26 following which the hospital stopped the usage of the treated water. But to avoid storage of water, the hospital has not been admitting patients for over a week, according to Mr Remzy.
“This has affected the survival of the hospital. More than 1,000 staff members are here. The district collector told us to use the treated water for vegetation as before,” added Mr Remzy. He said that if pollution board officials suggest any other safety alternative, the hospital was willing to follow that.
But Malaparambu councillor and BJP leader E. Prashant Kumar said that the sewage water was not treated. “We have no agenda against the hospital. But the sewage water being used for vegetation is not at all treated. The black- coloured contaminated water would affect the health of the people residing nearby,” he pointed out.
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