The Rs. 320 crore
project for control of pollution in the Pamba river in Kerala
will be duly considered for action under the National River Conservation
Plan. This was stated by the Environment and Forests Minister,
Shri T. R. Baalu at a meeting with a high level delegation led
by the Kerala Chief Minister, Shri A. K. Antony here today. Shri
Antony presented the Detailed Project Report in this regard to
Shri Baalu.
Shri Antony said
that the 176 km long Pamba river has turned into a puddle of human
waste due to discharge of raw sewage, domestic and commercial
wastes and open defecation, especially during the Sabarimala pilgrim
season. The Chief Minister said the Pamba Action Plan could be
taken up in three phases to address in a comprehensive manner
the problem of pollution in the river for the benefit of pilgrims
and the people of towns and cities along the river. He further
said that as required under the norms, 30 per cent of the project
cost would be borne by the stakeholders, beneficiary population
and the local bodies.
According to the
Detailed Project Report, 1.8 lakh pilgrims visit Sabarimala every
day during November-January every year. Improper disposal of sewage
and garbage, unhygienic temporary public conveniences, open defecation,
parking of vehicles by the riverside, drains discharging into
the river, low flow into the river etc. have resulted in environmental
degradation of the Pamba river. The coliform bacteria count in
the river water is in the range of 15,500 to 2,00,000 per 100
ml as against the standard norm of 10,000 per 100 ml.
The Union Government
launched the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in 1995.
With the merger of Ganga Action Plan – II with NRCP, the present
approved cost of NRCP stands at Rs. 3391.80 crore covering pollution
abatement works in 154 towns along polluted stretches of 28 rivers
in 17 States. The project cost under NRCP would be shared by the
Union and the State Governments on 70:30 basis.
