Home / Environment / Pollution Board Mandate Halts Kerala Sewage Plant Plan
Pollution Board Mandate Halts Kerala Sewage Plant Plan
12 Jan
Summary
- Pollution control board demands stricter BOD levels than planned.
- Project aims to prevent untreated sewage flowing into Amayizhanjan canal.
- Stricter standards may significantly increase project costs.
Thiruvananthapuram's ambitious plan to install five decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Rajaji Nagar colony has encountered a major setback. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has objected to granting environmental consent unless the treated effluent meets a strict biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) standard of below 10mg/litre.
This mandate has halted the project, which was designed to stop untreated sewage from contaminating the Amayizhanjan canal. Corporation officials are now reassessing design and cost estimates, as achieving BOD levels below 10mg/litre typically requires advanced and more expensive treatment systems than initially planned. The project was intended to serve approximately 900 families.
The delay exacerbates the ongoing environmental issues plaguing the Amayizhanjan canal, which has struggled with severe pollution from solid waste and wastewater discharge. Environmental activists and local residents have long criticized the slow progress of sanitation infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions.
