Pathalam: Tension over move to open shutter

KOCHI: Pathalam continued to witness tense moments on Saturday with activists and authorities locked over opening of the Pathalam regulator-cum-bridge shutters for the second consecutive day. Anticipating a surprise move by the Irrigation authorities to open the shutters, a group of environmentalists had been camping at the site since Friday. Due to this, KWA and Irrigation authorities deferred a decision while no police personnel was present at the site.

There were talks of suicide threat by the environmentalists if the shutters are opened while the Irrigation department braced for opening the shutters by Saturday midnight with the backing of the district administration and police protection. Environmentalists said that the chloride content in Periyar had gone down in the past one week and hence opening of shutters was not needed.

But district administration is gearing up to open it in response to a demand by the BPCL which says that the presence of chloride in the water it takes from Periyar for industrial purposes is beyond permissible limits. “The State Pollution Control Board reports said the level of chloride in the water stood at 137 mg per litre and 127 mg on Janauary 17 and 18 respectively, well below 250 mg allowed in drinking water. Even if the level goes up to 1000 mg per litre, the water could be used for industrial purpose,’’said Purushan Eloor, environmentalist.