PCB seeks more info on units lacking wastewater treatment facilities near Thevara-Perandoor canal

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has written to the Kochi Corporation seeking details of the entire apartment complexes and commercial units located close to the Thevara-Perandoor canal that have failed to comply with norms pertaining to the management of untreated wastewater.

The Ernakulam district office of the board sent a letter to the civic body following observations that the violations were not limited to the nearly 72 such units along the banks of the Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally canals that had received notices from the board for not having adequate wastewater treatment facilities. Some of the associations of apartment owners had pointed out this lacunae before the board while making their submissions on the lapses detected.

The board had asked the Kerala State Electricity Board to disconnect the power supply to the 72 apartment complexes and commercial buildings near the Thevara–Perandoor and Edappally canals that were found violating environmental norms by not setting up wastewater treatment facilities as per the norms prescribed by the board. The representatives of over 40 such erring units had sought more time to ensure compliance.

The board will initiate further action on the remaining apartment complexes and commercial units based on the report submitted by the corporation. The health wing of the corporation had carried out inspections in the 72 apartment complexes and commercial units that had failed to set up the sewage treatment plants. It had also asked the units to comply with the directives issued by the board.