KOCHI: Residents of Eloor are planning an indefinite agitation demanding immediate action against the increasing incidents of pollution of the Periyar.

As part of the ongoing protest, a people's right declaration meet highlighting the environmental deterioration of the river will be held at Pattupurackal Devi auditorium in Eloor on September 17. K. Chandran Pillai, MP, will inaugurate the meeting. Hundreds of Eloor residents and representatives of social and environmental groups will participate.

Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi, which is spearheading the campaign, will come up with a charter of demands on the occasion. Eloor residents want the Union Government and World Health Organisation to launch a de-contamination process in the river.

Elaborating on the demands raised by the local public, Purushan Eloor of the samithi said the toxic waste dumped in the river during the last 50 years should be removed. Periyar became a dumping yard filled with toxic effluents. A `take back' policy should be introduced in the area to check indiscriminate pollution, he said.

The samithi urged the authorities to implement a medi-card facility for residents of five wards in Eloor affected by industrial pollution. Citing studies conducted in the region, Mr. Purushan said the health condition of several residents became worse following unchecked pollution during the last several decades.

Residents of wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 17 (old Nos) should be given immediate medical care, he said. The samithi alleged that food sources in these five wards were contaminated due to pollution.

The charter of demands included a proposal for re-structuring the State Pollution Control Board. M.K. Kunjappan, a resident who was actively involved in the agitation against industrial pollution, said the board failed to resolve the problems faced by the people. He said the board never used its powers to initiate action against those polluting the river and nearby areas in Eloor. The samithi asked the board officials to take immediate steps to collect the Rs.2.5-crore fine imposed on industrial units in Eloor for polluting the river. It also demanded implementation of the Periyar revival project without delay.

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