The Hindu Business Line : Kochi industrial belt is a `toxic hot spot'

The Local Area Environment Committee (LAEC), which carried out an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), has termed the Eloor and Edayar industrial belt in the suburban area of Kochi as a "toxic hot spot" filled with heavy metals and pesticides.

The EIA report has found the presence of heavy metals and diverse mixture of organochlorine compounds from the samples collected from Eloor, Edayar and Kuzhikandam creek in the area.

Studies revealed that presence of metals like iron, cadmium, manganese, nickel, copper, and chlorides was in excess of prescribed limits.

The EIA report said that discharge from Kuzhikandam creek had reached Edamula branch of the Periyar river and industrial units in the area had a major role in contaminating groundwater in Eloor and Edayar.

The soil in Chakkarachal paddy field, Edayattuchal, Amanthuruthu paddy field, Panachithodu and Unnithodu areas was found contaminated by various types of chemicals. The LAEC found that Eloor and Edayar had become unfit for habitation. The committee has recommended that a survey be conducted in the reaches of the Periyar river.

Boundaries of the river have to be demarcated to protect it from encroachment. A Periyar protection force has to be introduced to monitor the river and take action against those indulging in activities detrimental to the natural source.

The committee also suggested that steps be taken to establish a river protection fund by converting the money mobilised through auction of sand seized from those involved in illegal sand mining.

It asked the Pollution Control Board to conduct a survey on the sediment deposits and evolve ways for removing non-biodegradable category of pollutants. Fish sanctuaries have to be set up to ensure sufficient fish population in the river.

The committee has also suggested setting up a laboratory for analysing persistent organic pollutants found in the Periyar. It has also requested the authorities not to allow industrial units within a distance of 100 metres from the river boundary in the Eloor-Edayar belt.

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