KOCHI: The CPI(M) district committee has demanded that the government set up a Periyar river authority for the protection of the river.
Despite the Periyar being the source of water for the whole of Ernakulam district, the river is heavily polluted, said a statement issued by the party here on Monday. It added that a committee of experts should go into the issue.
However, the party made it clear that it did not agree with the demand that all industrial units along the Periyar be shut down. “At the same time, the units must follow rules, and the government should ensure that they operate in accordance with environmental regulations,” it added.
Industrial units alone are not responsible for the pollution of the river, the CPI(M) statement said, adding that hospital waste and septage too contributed to water contamination.
“Both society and the government are responsible for the protection of the river, and it is wrong to claim that drinking water being supplied is ‘poisonous’ without proper scientific analysis. A committee appointed by the District Collector had found such campaigns ill-founded,” the statement said.
At the same time, people’s concerns should be addressed, besides putting in place a system to monitor the situation.
