In a verdict delivered on August 31, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the public-sector Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) to ensure sufficient safe drinking water supply to the people living in the vicinity of the company.
The people of the area face acute shortage of drinking water because of the toxic discharges from the KMML plants that have alarmingly polluted all water sources there.
A press conference in the light of the verdict was held here on Wednesday by the affected people under the banner of the Polluted Area Welfare Society (PAWS). The NGT verdict says that the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has been empowered to issue a stop notice to KMML if there are lapses on the part of the company in implementing the NGT directions.
The NGT verdict was based on reports submitted by the KSPCB, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.
PAWS president V. Vidyadharan said that all water sources, including wells, ponds, the TS Canal, and even a portion of the Ashtamudi Lake were polluted because of the toxic effluents released by the KMML.
Five wards in Panmana panchayat were completely affected and none of the water sources in these wards were safe to use, he said. In spite of the problem being brought to the attention of the KMML authorities for years, no moves for a solution were initiated. That had prompted the PAWS to move the NGT.
As per the NGT verdict, KMML would now have to ensure sufficient safe drinking water supply to the affected areas and also take steps to solve the KMML-caused problems in the affected areas as per the norms of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in a time bound manner. A report on the same to need to be submitted to the NGT every three months.
