Why isn’t a clean Periyar the priority for Kochiites?

Periyar has been an integral part of Malayalis’ lives for centuries. The longest river in the State, it traverses about 224 km, nourishing and sustaining life along the way, before it merges into the Arabian Sea. A major source of drinking water for several towns and cities in many districts of our State, including Kochi, it’s not for nothing that the Periyar is also called the ‘Lifeline of Kerala’.And yet, in just a turn of a century, the river which nurtured our ancestors for generations, is being choked to death, literally. Periyar has been routinely running red in the past one year, as a result of massive pollution from factory effluents. This year, around August, the redness lasted for an entire 1.5 months — a new low — resulting in protests and calls for action from several quarters. But despite the hullabaloo, the release of toxins continues, and we go on drinking the polluted water. Many species of fish that thrived in its waters have all but disappeared. The river is shrinking. When will we react, reform and do something to save Periyar? Kochi Times ponders, as environmentalists and activists say the warning bells are already ringing.
Clear water is not clean water
CM Joy, environmentalist
You might think clear water is clean water, but no. Water treatment doesn’t remove colourless toxins. Just because you don’t see the effluents in the discharge areas, it doesn’t mean you can close your eyes to the issue. People in Kannammali for example, live 50 km away from Aluva and might never have seen the Periyar in their lives. The first culprit is the Pollution Control Board (PCB) but the explanations they give is funny at times. They once claimed that the colour of the water changed due to earthquakes underneath the earth’s surface. Most recently, there was an instance of oil discharge into the river. The PCB claimed that the oil won’t affect the water quality as it stays on the top. But there is proof that heavy oils will seep into the water and can be carcinogenic. The government is standing with the corrupt company officials, and not with the people. People will have to start dying for the Government to react.
Pollution has increased with decreased water flow
CR Neelakantan, environmentalist
The Periyar issue has been there since the 80s. Why make a hue and cry now?’ Is the thought process of many a Kochiite. But there is a definite increase in the pollution levels now because the water flow has come down over the past many years. The reasons for this are many. Whenever a dam is built along its route, the water flow of a river comes down. Deforestation and the conversion of forest lands into tea estates etc. also reduces the flow of water. Destruction of rocks and hills, sand mining on the shores of the river and the conversion of farmlands on the shores into construction sites are the other reasons. Despite all these changes, status quo has been maintained when it comes to the release of pollutants from the factories. No company will own up to the pollution. And it’s no use testing the river water to find out which company is polluting it. Each company’s discharge pipe has to be tested. But to this date, no government agency or political party has made a sincere effort to do this.
Entire civilisations have ended due to water issues
Rima Kallingal, Actor
I am as much worried as each one of you, who uses water from this source on a day-to-day basis. If we concentrate half our attention that goes into the health sector, to control regulations for these companies, we can control the hazards that will entail and effect generations to come. Entire civilisations have ended owing to the way they treated their water bodies. Considering it is prophesied that the Third World War will be for water and that the immediate effect is seen in our neighbouring states, don’t you think it is time we paid heed?
Only 12 species of fish in the Periyar, as against 35
Purushan Eloor, environmentalist
The Periyar is the lifeline for Kochi. But drinking water is not the only issue we have at hand. It is an entire ecosystem which is being destroyed with the toxins. While there were 35 species of fish in the Periyar in the 80s, there are only 12 now. Where they used to catch 3.7 kilos of fish in one catch, there is only 300 gm now. You have more chances of fishing out plastic than fish from the river today. Also, the fish need micro-organisms like plankton whose numbers have come down. The fish themselves are not getting enough to eat.
A case had gone to the National Green Tribunal
Thrideep Kumar M P,
Environmental Engineer, Environmental
Surveillance Centre, Kerala State
Pollution Control Board, Eloor
Action from the part of the PCB was insufficient, which is why the Central Pollution Control Board was asked to look into it. A case had gone to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which has ordered the PCB to look into all the companies that are situated alongside the Periyar. So a 10-day meet is going on, till the 28th. The Periyar is the main topic of discussion here as well. Trade unions and political parties are holding protests.
FACT FILE
The ‘Red Water’ Phenomenon
Why does the river turn red at times?
Ferrous chloride is one of the pollutants released from the factories, which on contact with the water, undergoes oxidation and turns the water red.
Is it true that the pollution of the water has led to an increase in kidney related diseases in Kochi?
“It has been proven that the residents of Eloor have more incidence of asthma, kidney related ailments and 21 other diseases compared to others and the reason is polluted water. Residents of Kochi too have more incidence of kidney-related diseases compared to other districts but no studies have been made so far to prove it scientifically,” says Purushan.
How do we know if the water we drink is polluted or not?
There is no way except scientific testing at a lab. The only water treatment done at the treatment plan at Aluva is to pump the water through a fan filter, says Purushan. “After this Chlorine is added to it to kill E coli bacteria. There is no treatment done with membranes to treat the chemical pollutants,” he adds.
The major impediment
Protests have always been made against the erring companies but a big group from among the public themselves always turn against the environmentalists, claiming that they have ulterior motives. Eloor, for example, a small island situated in the middle of the river and the worst hit from pollution, has an industry culture. “When I cry for closing down the companies, half the people around, including my neighbours, tell me, ‘What are you going to do by closing down the company and depriving us of our livelihood? Do you want to save the environment or our jobs?” ‘We know about the pollution but we have to live’ is their response. They only look at the short term benefits, not the future hazards,” says Purushan.
What is the solution to the issue?
CM Joy: What we need is a River Protection Force which can spot and stop different kinds of pollution. At policy level no discussions are being made. A collective strike is needed where students should present a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding clean water.
Purushan Eloor: The pollution of the Periyar should come first in the city’s problems but the solution is not easy, as the pollution doesn’t come from a single industry. It comes from all the industries present there, all of which discharge different kinds of pollutants.
The reason why the companies don’t take measures to stop discharge is because the system is corrupt to the core. There’s an unholy nexus between the companies, PCB and the all the political parties. If PCB tightens its grip, the companies will follow the rules and make sure they properly treat the effluents.