Ire over move to open Pathalam shutters

KOCHI: A strong protest is mounting against the Irrigation Department’s move to open the shutters of the Pathalam regulator-cum-bridge as per the instructions of the district administration to reduce the salinity and pollution level in the river’s upstream. On Thursday, a group of green activists and local residents launched a sit in protest at the bridge and threatened to block the authorities if they tried to open the shutters.

The district administration directed the opening of the bridge’s shutters based on a complaint of the Cochin Refinery that its functioning was hit due to the high chloride level in the river. If the shutters were not opened, the chemical contaminants and salinity would reach further upstream which could affect drinking water projects situated in those areas, according to the authorities. In view of the strong protest, a police force was deployed to prevent untoward incidents. The officials are likely to open the shutters on Saturday.

Meanwhile, green activists have made it clear that they would not allow opening of the shutters until the authorities gave an explanation on how the river upstream had high salinity and pollution.  “We are not against opening the shutters of the bridge. But, the district administration should make it clear how the salt content level increases in the river even after the regulator cum bridge is constructed which is meant for preventing intrusion of brackish water from the Vembanad Lake. As the Cochin Refinery has complained of a high chloride level, effluents of the industrial units in the area should be tested to fix the culprit,” said Purushan Eloor of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi.

There are a couple of drinking water projects in the area but the Kerala Water Authority has not yet reported high levels of salinity or chloride in those areas. “If there is high contamination near the intake point of the Refinery, it should have reflected in the KWA pump houses situated adjacent. The district administration should probe whether the industrial unit is making false statements or the KWA is hiding the fact that there is contamination in the river water,” he added.