The Alappuzha municipality has issued an ultimatum to hotels and other commercial establishments in its limits to set up sewage treatment plants (STP).
A recent survey conducted jointly by the health wing of the municipality and Canalpy volunteers identified 32 hotels which dump sewage into canals. Further, the civic body served notice on 233 hotels and establishments found violating the norms.
In a workshop held last week, the municipal authorities warned of stern action against the violators.
“We will not allow anyone to dump waste into canals and in public places. Hotels have been given three months to set up STPs. As announced in the State Budget, 20% subsidy will be given for setting up water sewage treatment units in hotels. In the meantime, we will take steps to block outlets dumping waste into canals. All the canals will be cleaned and protected,” said an official.
Into waterbodies
According to officials, some of these hotels have been found to be dumping black water along with other waste into waterbodies and operate violating all existing norms on pollution control.
“Stringent action will be taken against those establishments that are not ready to cooperate with the municipality. We will not renew their licences and legal action will be initiated against them,” the official added.
Recently, the Alappuzha municipality launched a project for the scientific cleaning of waste-choked canals. As part of it, various feeder canals with a total length of 44 km will be revived and protected at a cost of ₹19 crore. The canals will be deepened after removing silt and waste. All encroachments on the banks of the canals will be evicted and outlets dumping waste will be blocked. The project is being funded under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.
Apart from small canals, the State government has started the renovation of nine major canals in Alappuzha.
The project is being implemented in four different phases at a total cost of ₹108 crore under the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
