In a strategic move to combat the prevalent hesitancy among officials towards collecting samples from the Periyar River during instances of suspected pollution, a collaborative effort between environmentalists and fishermen has culminated in the deployment of two surveillance boats near the Pathalam regulator cum bridge.
Under the auspices of the Janajagrata Committee and the Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi, the initiative seeks to facilitate local authorities, municipal bodies, and pollution control board officials in promptly accessing locations where industrial pollutants potentially infiltrate the Periyar, particularly in the Eloor-Edayar industrial belt. Elevating the commencement ceremony, Eloor Municipal Chairman A D Sujil and Kadungallur Panchayat President Suresh Muttathil ceremoniously flagged off the boats at the regulator cum bridge site. Speaking on the occasion, the municipal chairman underscored the efficacy of such a surveillance system in monitoring the escalating incidences of pollution and furnishing irrefutable evidence to relevant authorities.
Activists involved in the initiative highlighted the persistent discharge of pollutants into the Periyar River via both official conduits and clandestine channels utilised by industries. The deployment of these surveillance vessels represents a pivotal step towards bolstering environmental stewardship and safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Periyar River basin. In essence, this collaborative endeavour symbolises a proactive stance towards addressing environmental challenges, embodying a synergy between grassroots activism and institutional cooperation. “Very often pollutants are dumped on Saturday evenings or on Sundays when not many people are around the area. When we inform officials, there is a delay in collecting samples from such spots because of the non-availability of boats . This initiative is part of vigilance that is needed as defaulters are getting away after polluting the river,” said O V Shabeer, member of Jana Jagratha Samithi
