Kadambrayar pollution: Kerala State Pollution Control Board starts inspecting erring units to fix environmental compensation

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has initiated physical verification of sources responsible for the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the Kadambrayar river in Ernakulam district in Kerala as part of fixing the environmental compensation based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

The inspections started on Thursday (May 21, 2026) after the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal, which took suo motu cognisance of the pollution of the Kadambrayar river based on a report published in The Hindu, directed the board to take further action against the violators based on the report submitted by the Department of Local Self-Government on February 19, 2025.

The local bodies sharing the banks of the river, including Kochi Corporation, Thrikkakara municipality, Kunnathunad, Kizhakkambalam and Edathala panchayats, had submitted the details of those responsible for the unauthorised discharge of untreated wastewater into the Kadambrayar.

The board officials stated that a final count of the violators would become clear only after studying the report submitted by the local bodies. The violators included industrial and commercial units, apartment and residential complexes and hotels. “We have also come across reports related to the illegal pipelines directed into the river,” they said.

Monthly monitoring

The board is carrying out monthly monitoring in locations that include Brahmapuram, Kadambrayar upstream and Manakkakadavu as part of the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. The areas close to the canal joining Kadambrayar near Infopark Phase-2 and Edachirathodu would also be monitored. The apartment and industrial units found lacking in sewage treatment plant as per the norms would also come under the scanner as part of the ongoing verification.

The quantum of penalty to be imposed on the violators has to be finalised without delay as the Southern Bench of the tribunal has posted the matter for reporting compliance on June 22, 2026. It had earlier observed that the board is yet to comply with its February 2026 order related to the assessment of the environmental compensation.