KOCHI: More green activists have come forward against the campaign by a newly- formed environment group called Collective for Right to Live (CORAL). The new group has been campaigning on the "serious toxic contamination" of drinking water pumped from Periyar. Strongly criticising the observations of CORAL, Dr. C.M Joy, a noted environmental activist, said that the group is creating unnecessary panic among people. “The demand for closing down all red category industries along Periyar will hit the state’s industrial development. It is unfortunate that a section of religious leaders are supporting such unscientific demands.
The river should be conserved from its origin to the end and not along the industrial areas. “Interestingly, religious leaders who opposed the Gadgil Committee report for Western Ghats conservation are now supporting the Periyar conservation," said Dr. Joy. According to the expert, no cases of toxic contamination of drinking water from Periyar have been reported so far. Nor has any instance of disease been reported. “The industrial pollution can be effectively resolved if the companies strictly comply with the pollution norms. The State Pollution Control Board and the state government should take a proactive approach. The issue should be addressed not through false campaign, but in a scientific manner,” he added.
