Microplastic Pollution Taints Kerala's Periyar River

As of August 26th, 2025, a joint committee set up by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board has discovered microplastic pollution in the upstream of the Periyar River, a crucial waterway in the state. The contamination was detected in the area adjacent to the Edayar industrial zone, where the now-defunct Sree Sakthi Paper Mills had previously operated.

The committee, formed to assess the impact of plastic waste dumping by the paper mill, found microplastics in both the soil samples collected from the site and the water samples drawn from the river. The panel decided to collect additional reference samples to comprehensively evaluate the potential microplastic load due to the company's waste disposal practices.

The analysis of these supplementary samples confirmed the presence of microplastics, leading the committee to conclude that the contamination in the Periyar River stems from multiple sources, not solely the paper mill site. Nevertheless, the panel has recommended the construction of an additional concrete or equivalent embankment along the river bank frontage of the former mill's location to prevent any possible surface or subsurface water runoff, as the area has already been compacted and converted into a parking lot.

The microplastic pollution in the Periyar River is a concerning development, as the waterway is a vital resource for the local community. The committee's findings and recommendations aim to address the issue and mitigate the environmental impact of the defunct paper mill's legacy.