Periyar river in Kerala faces toxic pollution crisis threatening ecology and public health

The Periyar river, once regarded as the lifeblood of central Kerala, now stands as a chilling emblem of environmental neglect.

Data from the National Water Quality Programme up to December 2024 paints a grim picture—virtually every major monitoring station in Ernakulam district has reported critically high levels of faecal coliform and streptococci. These alarming concentrations not only indicate a breakdown of sewage treatment infrastructure but also expose local communities to serious public health threats, including outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as gastroenteritis.

The contamination stems from a toxic mix of unchecked industrial discharge and untreated septic waste entering the river system. Despite repeated assurances from authorities, effluents continue to flow into the Periyar and its connected waterways, including the Kochi backwaters and Vembanad lake. Some of the most heavily polluted sites—like Irumbanam, where faecal coliform counts have peaked at 11,000 MPN per 100 ml—clearly surpass safe limits prescribed for even outdoor bathing. At Brahmapuram’s Kadambrayar, pollution has manifested visibly through floating waste and high turbidity, while Kalamassery and Wellingdon Island have recorded levels indicative of severe biological contamination.

Local environmentalists argue that the damage is no longer subtle or reversible without immediate systemic intervention. The Periyar Maleenikkarana Viruddha Samithi, a grassroots coalition, has been documenting recurring fish kills and pushing for accountability. Although some minor incidents were reported last month, activists fear these are merely symptoms of a larger ecological collapse. They allege a consistent indifference from state agencies, and call for decisive political will to address the river’s decline.

In a revealing report submitted to the National Green Tribunal, the Central Pollution Control Board acknowledged that all 13 monitoring locations along the Periyar failed to meet basic water quality norms for outdoor usage. The parameters tested—ranging from biochemical oxygen demand to pH levels—reflected significant deviation from permissible limits. Yet, industrial contamination remains a contested issue. While government departments maintain that industrial units are under regulation, environmentalists argue otherwise. Long-term studies and multiple investigations by national agencies have detected chemical and heavy metal pollutants near industrial clusters at Eloor and Edayar, suggesting systemic violations of environmental norms.

Adding weight to their claims, the Kerala High Court is currently hearing a public interest petition filed by the Green Action Force, which demands the formation of a dedicated Periyar Basin Authority to enforce river conservation. Petitioners contend that existing committees lack the autonomy, transparency, and urgency required to safeguard the river’s future. Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal is also pursuing a suo motu case related to the presence of heavy metals in fish species sampled from Kochi waters. The tribunal has directed the National Centre for Coastal Research to conduct a comprehensive survey. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board, in turn, has requested additional time to submit its findings, with the next hearing scheduled for July 14.

For a state that prides itself on literacy and progressive governance, Kerala’s failure to protect one of its most vital natural assets reflects a deeper dissonance between policy rhetoric and ground realities. The worsening state of the Periyar river is not just an ecological issue but a humanitarian one. As a source of drinking water, cultural identity, and livelihood, its contamination strikes at the core of sustainable urban living. If the momentum for intervention falters, the consequences will not be confined to Eloor or Kochi—they will ripple across generations.

Periyar river in Kerala faces toxic pollution crisis threatening ecology and public health