The Hindu Business Line : Pamba Action Plan delay aggravates pollution at Sabarimala

THE non-implementation of Pamba Action Plan under the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP), even two years after the Centre has sanctioned the funds, might aggravate the pollution of the Pamba river with the beginning of Sabarimala pilgrimage season and the existing inadequate facilities in the area.

The current pilgrimage season began on Tuesday. The National River Conservation Programme (NRCP) in a bid to arrest the pollution had sanctioned the projects to be implemented in the first phase involving an investment of Rs 18.45 crore spread over four years.

After approving these projects aimed at completing them before the beginning of the current season, the Centre had sanctioned its share of Rs 12.9 crore - 70 per cent of the total cost of Rs 18.45 crore. It had in fact advanced Rs 75 lakh also for commencing the project.

The balance 30 per cent of the cost has to be borne by the State Government/ local bodies etc. The total cost of the entire project is estimated at Rs 320 crore.

However, none of the projects, except for some work on the bathing ghat , was implemented despite the fact that the funds were sanctioned in May, 2003, Mr N.K. Sukumaran Nair, General Secretary, Pamba Parirakshana Samiti (PPS), which was instrumental in getting the river included in the NRCP, told Business Line on Tuesday.

There has been an increase of 10 to 20 per cent in the arrival of pilgrims every year and hence in the absence of adequate facilities to arrest the inflow of pollutants from Sabarimala and Pamba to the river would be at higher levels, he said.

During the pilgrimage season coliform bacteria in the Pamba river water is found to be very high in the order of up to three lakh per 100 ml, he said. This indicates the high level of sewage pollution in the water due to the absence of sufficient sanitary facilities at Sabarimala, Pamba and en route to Sabarimala for the pilgrims as well as to the public in the nearby inhabitations.

"It is imperative that water quality of Pamba river be improved/upgraded in its entire stretch not only for the benefit of pilgrims and in the townships situated within the basin, but also for improving water quality in the downstream stretches, especially in the waterlogged areas of Kuttanad and Vembanadu lake," the State Pollution Control Board sources pointed out.

In fact, the water quality monitoring done by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, as per the directions of the High Court, had brought to light the urgent need for an action plan for cleaning up the river. About 30 lakh people living in the river basin, who depend on the Pamba river water, are affected, he alleged.

The effect of domestic sewage on the ecology of the wetland region in Kuttanad is significant, he said. Faecal coliform counts up to 31,000/100 ml have been recorded in Pampa river at Thakazhy in Kuttanadu by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board in Dec 2001.

Official sources said that already the season had begun and there was no time left. The Government would initiate steps to complete the first phase of the project before the commencement of the next pilgrimage season.

Social scientists and environmental activists expressed the view that in the absence of a "political will" the project might not take off and for the implementation it there should have to be a independent Pamba River Basin Development Authority (PRBDA).

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