ALAPPUZHA : The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has directed entrepreneurs in coir sector to take steps in a time-bound manner to stop retting of coconut husk fibre in water bodies leading to pollution of water and destroying the fish wealth.

In a crucial order, the PCB said the Coir Board had successfully developed a technology to soften coconut fibre without retting, and small and big entrepreneurs in the coir sector should adopt the technology in three months.

The PCB noted that the manufacture of coir yarn using fibre softened with the new technology was more economical. Such yarn was of better quality too. In the situation, the entrepreneurs should adopt the new scientific method for retting fibre, the PCB said.

The PCB said it would be forced to take punitive action against those entrepreneurs who ignored the directive. The PCB said the foul smell emanating from water bodies where retting was being done was causing untold miseries to the public. The coconut fibre being imported to the State from neighbouring States was being extracted from chemically treated raw husks using machines.

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