The government is exploring options to revive the project to set up a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) for industrial units along the Eloor-Edayar stretch of the Periyar.
The much-delayed project was expected to get a push after the government had earmarked around ₹30 crore towards a ₹250-crore assistance promised by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for setting up CETPs in various industrial estates in the State. However, the Centre’s borrowing restrictions on the State had delayed its implementation.
Industries Minister P. Rajeeve said on Tuesday that the restrictions on taking loans had impacted the CETP project under assistance from the SIDBI. However, the government was looking at whether it could be included under the Guarantee Redemption Fund (GDR), which was meant to cover government guarantees offered for loans availed by public sector entities and cooperatives, he said.
The monthly progress report on the updated status of the short- and long-term projects for the rejuvenation of the Periyar submitted before the Ministry of Jal Shakthi for May had quoted a decision taken at a meeting called by the Chief Secretary on February 9, 2023 saying that the CETP project might be dropped. All the units may be advised to have their own facilities for treatment of effluents. The fund allotted for the project may be utilised for any other liquid waste treatment project, it said.
According to the detailed project report for the CETP in Edayar, the proposed plant will have the capacity to treat two million litres per day. A preliminary report prepared by the Kerala Water Authority said that the site identified for the project was close to the north-western portion of the industrial estate, which was previously occupied by the now defunct Periyar Chemical Industries. There was sufficient land with a facility to discharge to the downstream of the Pathalam regulator-cum-bridge of the Periyar, it said.
Published – July 01, 2025 09:16 pm IST
