The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : MLA seeks Periyar river authority

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Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

MLA seeks Periyar river authority

Special Correspondent

MLA says the Government has failed to implement the `Save Periyar Project' To implement the Save Periyar Project

Government has failed to find the cause of discolouration of water Moolam Purapallikkavu bund damaged owing to sand mining

KOCHI: V.D. Satheesan, Paravur MLA, has demanded setting up of a Periyar river authority to implement the proposed Save Periyar Project.

At a press conference on Saturday, he said that though Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan had announced formation of the project three months ago, the Government was yet to implement the project.

The Chief Minister had said that within three months the details of the project would be announced. However, the Government had failed to initiate any steps to set the scheme in motion. The MLA alleged that the Government was going back on its promise. He said that the water had become discoloured.

The water authority officials said that the discoloured water had already reached one and half kilometres away from the pumping station.

The legislator said that it would soon reach the pumping house and affect the drinking water supply system. The authorities concerned had failed to find the exact cause for decolourisation of the water of the river.

When the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had let out sediments from the Kallarkutty Dam into the Periyar, the water drinking supply system had been affected. Despite this, the Government had not sought assistance of the experts to find out ways to remove the sediments from the dam without affecting the Periyar.

Charge against KSEB

The MLA said that the KSEB was waiting for the monsoon to get into full swing to release the remaining sediments from the Kallarkutty and Pampa dams.

According to the water authority officials, during monsoon season, the turbidity level would be higher. If the sediments were let out into the water, the turbidity would go up and consequently, 15 water treatment plants would have to be shut down.

Bund damaged

He pointed out that the Moolam Purapallikkavu bund was damaged owing to indiscriminate sand-mining in Periyar.

He said that those who were arrested in more than one illegal sand mining case should be punished under the Goonda Ordinance. There was a provision in the Ordinance to punish those who caused damages to the environment.

He said that the State Pollution Control Board should strengthen its monitoring system during the monsoon days.

It was at this time that the industries along the banks of Periyar discharged effluents into the river.

He also demanded that a survey be conducted along the banks of Periyar to identify encroachments.

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