[1]The river monitoring station at Eloor, the first of its kind in the state, initiated by the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) will be commissioned in a month’s time.
It was in 2000 that the PCB assured the green activists and local residents of Eloor, one of the toxic hotspots in the world, that it would set up a permanent mechanism to check the pollution of the river Periyar.
PCB chairman K. Sajeevan told DC that though delayed by several years, the mechanism would be of help in detecting the variations in the levels of chloride, phosphate, free ammonia, suspended particles, salinity and temperature along with the other parameters.
The monitoring station will have advanced sensitive system to monitor the purity of the river water.
The system is being installed mid-river near IRE junkar jetty and the main unit at a nearby mosque building.
Water samples will be checked periodically and the data regarding water quality will be displayed on the digital display boards to be erected at the FACT Junction.
“The monitoring station was delayed for more than one reason. Being the first of its kind, we faced issues including availability of suitable equipment, technology and land.
We are in discussions with KELTRON to finalise the technology to be used to record and display the data on the digital boards,” he said.
If the Eloor municipality had supported it in finding suitable land, the monitoring station could have been more effective and less expensive, he added.
In 2000, during a joint survey by PCB officials, green activists and local residents, it was found that more than 30 unauthorised outlets from industrial units were discharging untreated effluent into the river.
“The PCB officials have given an assurance that a monitoring station will be set up within six months. We are happy that it is to become a reality soon,” said Purushan Eloor, activist of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi.
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