Greens voice concern over worsening pollution of Periyar

They reiterate that discolouration of river is due to iron contamination

Greens have voiced concern over the worsening ecological condition of the Periyar owing to heavy metal contamination.

The frequent discolouration of the river on its Edayar stretch had triggered protests among local residents and environmentalists, who alleged that the government and enforcement agencies had failed to take concrete action against those responsible for the pollution.

“The results of the test samples collected by the State Pollution Control Board in June and August from the upstream of Pathalam bund and the Irrigation canal near the navigation channel had revealed the presence of iron, copper, manganese, aluminium, cadmium, etc. in levels exceeding the permissible limits by several times. The findings had contradicted the board’s position that the discolouration of the river stretch was not due to iron contamination,” said Purushan Eloor, research co-ordinator of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi.