Kochi: The state Pollution Control Board has come out with a report that pollution in the Muthirappuzha river in Munnar has crossed the limits several times the allowed levels even as Munnar panchayat on Monday served notice on five resorts in the hill station. In a study that spanned from January to May 2016, the board has found that the presence of the harmful coliform bacteria to be higher than normal.
In May 2016, the number was 5,680 CFU/100 ml against the allowed limit of less than 500 CFU/100ml. The figures for the other months are 3,900 (January), 1600 (February), 1300 (March) and 2600 (April). The level of coliform bacteria indicates the sanitary quality of water and indicates the presence of harmful bacteria normally present in human feces.
The report validates the report the Devikulam tahsildar had submitted to the district collector in December 2015 which said as many as 59 business establishments, mostly resorts, were depositing waste in the river. The report had also pointed out that the resorts dumped the waste, including meat, into the water bodies in the night.
Meanwhile, under pressure from the district administration and environmentalists, the Munnar Panchayat on Monday issued notices on five resorts in the hill station asking them to show cause why action should not be taken against them for dumping waste into water bodies including Muthirappuzha.
The action follows a direction by the Devikulam revenue divisional officer as well as an order by the State Human Rights Commission to initiate action against polluting business establishments.
