Piravom Puzha to come under surveillance

KOCHI: Following the success of 'Save Piravom puzha' campaign, Jose K. Mani, MP, has promised funds to install surveillance cameras at major bridges along the river. The more-than-7-kilometres-long Piravom Puzha, a tributary of Muvattupuzha River, was highly polluted with municipal solid waste and toilet waste. An NGO 'Save Piravom Puzha' has revived and has been carrying out regular clean up. "Funds will be allocated to install cameras at bridges located at Piravom, Kalamboor, Nechur, Peruvammoozhi and Mudakkil. The cameras will be linked with nearby police stations and stringent action will be taken against those dumping waste to the river, a major drinking water source," said Mr Mani.

Volunteers of the NGO, led by Gils Periyappuram, who is also the education standing committee chairman of Piravom municipality, have been regularly cleaning the river for last more than a year. "Indiscriminate pollution of the river with waste from markets, slaughterhouses, houses and commercial establishments has polluted the river, a source for four major drinking water projects. Intake points of JNNURM funded Maradu project, Japan drinking water project, Kakkad and Veliyannur projects are situated along the 7-km stretch and more than 10 lakh people are dependent on them," said Mr Periyappuram.

"Due to extensive awareness programmes, local residents and commercial firms have almost stopped dumping waste to the river. But, people from other areas dump slaughterhouse waste from bridges during night. Once surveillance cameras are installed, such criminal groups can be caught," added Mr Periyappuram. Volunteers of the NGO have removed huge quantities garbage from the river. Sacks of waste from slaughterhouse were found near the drinking water pumping stations. The NGO completed the cleaning drive in two phases.