Following inspections after a mass fish kill in Periyar river on the 20th and 21st of May, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has issued notices to two industrial units located in Edayar industrial area here.
According to these officials, A.K Chemicals was given a closure intention notice while Arjuna Natural Pvt. Ltd. was given a consent withdrawal intention notice. These officials stated that an inspection there had proved presence of sulphur in some water samples taken from storm water drain at the first unit. In addition, they claimed that blackish discharge was observed during sampling in the second unit.
Respond within one week
The board has sent out closure intention and consent withdrawal notices under Section 33A of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The units shall give their response within one week.
“We have still not received any such notice,” said a top official from Arjuna Natural Pvt Ltd. “Despite this, we have been discharging no effluent while using treated process water again.”
The official further explained that even though it could be true that rainwater flowing into this drain outside their compound might cause such kind of blackened discharge through storm drains; he denied allegations over treating waste water from other sources without prior treatment.
No comments were available from A.K Chemical management.
Inspections will go on
The board added that inspections will continue at units situated in Edayar industrial area. Inspections were also carried out along Thoombungal Thodu which merges with Periyar at Edamula.
The units are asked not to discharge raw sewage into the storm drains meant for releasing rainwater according to them.
