The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) will issue directions to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to disconnect the power supply to over 70 apartment complexes and commercial buildings near the Thevara–Perandoor and Edappally canals that were found violating environmental norms by not setting up adequate wastewater treatment facilities.
The PCB had earlier issued closure notices to around 88 such units under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The notice had said that the Board would be constrained to direct the appropriate authority to disconnect the supply of electricity, water, and any other services to the buildings.
The Board will issue directions to the concerned Assistant Engineers of the KSEB to disconnect the electricity supply to the erring units, it is learnt. It also had initiated follow-up action after the expiry of the 15-day notice period issued to the violators. Representatives of the units had either failed to submit a reply or refused to accept the notice in violation of the rules. The replies submitted by some other units were found unsatisfactory.
It was also found that some of the units that had installed sewage treatment plants had failed to obtain the mandatory consent of the Board, as required under Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, for the discharge of treated effluent.
Action against the erring units was initiated based on directions issued by the National Green Tribunal and the Kerala High Court, both of which had taken serious note of the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the canals by the defaulting units.
Published – July 23, 2025 11:58 pm IST
