Forum questions PCB’s findings on Periyar pollution

Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi questions findings of no heavy metals in Periyar sediment samples, blames State Pollution Control Board.

Anti-pollution forum Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi has questioned the findings of a panel that heavy metals, including mercury, arsenic and hexavalent chromium, were not detected in the sediment samples collected from the Eloor-Edayar stretch of the Periyar.

The finding that there was no presence of toxic heavy metals was mentioned in the report dated October 28, 2024 of the expert committee constituted by the Kerala High Court to study and recommend solutions to problems of pollution in the Periyar.

The sediment samples were collected from the industrial stretch of the river on June 29, July 2, 3, and 27 by the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) on the directive of the committee set up after the mass fish kill on the Eloor-Edayar stretch of the Periyar on May 20 and 21.

Purushan Eloor, research co-ordinator of the Samithi, pointed out that the board had submitted sediment samples on behalf of the petitioners in the case for testing at a private lab in Aroor as suggested by them.

The results had revealed the presence of mercury in seven samples collected from near Travancore Cochin Chemicals (1.51 mg/kg to 22.42 mg/kg); arsenic (1.41 mg/kg to 73.86 mg/kg), and cadmium (1.96 mg/kg to 37.38 mg/kg). The presence of hexavalent chromium (7.67 mg/kg to 628.5 mg/kg) was also detected in all the samples, he said.

The forum blamed the Board for not including the findings in the final report submitted before the court. It also questioned the panel finding that the spike in organic load in the river had resulted in the mass fish kill. The Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board in Ernakulam was not available for comment.