KOCHI: The Government will soon convene a meeting to discuss steps to check the increasing pollution of the Periyar.

Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy has asked the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to submit a detailed report on the recent discolouration of the river. The Board is likely to finalise its report by Monday. A copy of the report will be submitted to the Ernakulam District Collector.

Senior officials of the Irrigation Department in Ernakulam will also submit a report on the pollution of the river to the Government.

Sources in the Irrigation Department said the Government would evolve a plan of action to protect the river.

The Health Minister has convened a meeting of Board officials in Thiruvananthapuram on September 28. Officials of the Irrigation Department in Ernakulam will also attend the meeting.

Based on their investigations, the Irrigation Department officials have recommended to the Government that a 24-hour monitoring system should be introduced to check the pollution. A laboratory having international standards has to be set up to monitor the pollution.

They have stressed the need to seek the services of experts who can detect illegal outlets established by industrial units located on the banks of the river. They also recommended that officials of the State Pollution Control Board and the Irrigation Department jointly monitor the pollution.

Additional facilities

The Government will consider requests for providing additional facilities at the Eloor office of the Pollution Control Board, it is learnt. Sources in the Board said that work on finalising the report on the discolouration of the river began on Saturday.

Officials of the regional office of the Board and main office in Thiruvananthapuram will be involved in preparing the final draft.

It is learnt that the board has not been able to arrive at a definite conclusion regarding the exact reason behind the discolouration of the river.

More discussions will be held on Sunday before finalising the report. The District Administration is likely to take further action based on the report prepared by the Board.

Rights declaration

Meanwhile, hundreds of Eloor residents will participate in a rights declaration meet to be held on Sunday.

Representatives of various environmental and social groups will attend the programme to be held at Pattupurackal Devi Auditorium at Eloor.

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