Kalamassery, Aluva and Eloor municipalities have imposed a total penalty of over ₹25 lakh on violators for illegal discharge of untreated wastewater and dumping of waste in the Periyar as of March this year.
The penalty was imposed as part of the implementation of the Periyar Action Plan. The Kalamassery municipality had collected ₹22.3 lakh as penalty from violators for dumping of waste and illegal discharge of sewage into public drains leading to the river, according to estimates compiled by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board in March.
The action was taken after identification of establishments/commercial complexes/apartments and hotels that had violated waste management norms through illegal discharge of sewage into public drains.
The Aluva municipality had imposed a penalty of ₹3.4 lakh as on February 2025 after inspections revealed illegal discharge outlets into the drains and streams leading to the river. A fine of ₹1.6 lakh was imposed for illegal waste dumping, while a penalty of ₹25,000 was fixed for illegal discharge of septage into the river. Short-term measures to impose penalty on violators had started in the 2020-21 fiscal.
The delay in the implementation of the action plan for rejuvenation of the Periyar had invited criticism from the National Green Tribunal, which had considered reports by the State Level Monitoring Committee on Solid Waste Management. The Southern Bench of the tribunal had directed the authorities to ascertain the causes of pollution and take immediate preventive measures. The government and its departments concerned were told to submit their suggestions as to how each one could play its role effectively for preventing the pollution of the river.
Published – June 20, 2025 09:53 pm IST