KOCHI: The State Pollution Control Board district office has resumed inspection on industrial units to check violation of Supreme Court norms on effluent treatment plants. During the previous drive, closure notice was served on six units of which four have got permission to reopen after rectifying lapses in the effluent treatment system. The inspection started on May 23 after the SC deadline for setting up proper effluent treatment facility ended.
“After a short break, check on industrial units has resumed this week and will continue in coming days. The industries are more vigilant after the inspection started and several units have rectified errors in ETP,” said M.P. Thrideep Kumar, PCB district engineer. However, the issue of dumping of industrial waste into River Periyar during heavy monsoon remains unaddressed due to lack of a proper monitoring system.
An inspection conducted by Central Pollution Control Board in March had identified serious violations of pollution norms by industrial units. It has found that among the more than 30 industrial units, dependent on Periyar, only one company – Travancore Cochin Chemicals Limited – is properly operating its effluent treatment facility.
Though other units have treatment plants, effluents are not being properly treated and discharged as per norms. Despite being the implementing agency, the PCB has no database on the number of industries which have to be inspected for violations. Though the state has more than 50, 000 registered industries, only those units which have effluents will be impacted by the SC order.
