The Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) has submitted a report to the State Pollution Control Board that there were no clandestine outlets of industrial units into the Periyar river. The NGRI was asked to probe the existence of illegal outlets in the river following widespread protests by environmentalists that industrial units were dumping effluents into the river. The draft report submitted by the research agency said it could not find any clandestine outlets into the river. The State Pollution Control Board has now asked the agency to conduct further investigations to ascertain reports that several industrial units had set up such illegal outlets.
The report submitted by the NGRI explained that deep penetrating radar was used to detect clandestine outlets, if any, in the river. But studies could not detect any such outlet, it is learnt. The report suggested that the radar was used to find out hidden pipelines directed from industrial units into the river. Experts from the agency used technical equipment to verify whether there was any illegal outlet at a depth of 20 to 30 metres. Preliminary investigations failed to spot such outlets.
The board has asked the NGRI to use its technical expertise in cracking down the industrial units dumping effluents. Sources said that liquid wastes could be channelised to rivers through factory waste water outlets. The board has also instructed industrial units located along the Periyar to keep their waste water outlets visibly above the water level in the adjacent river. It has also asked the industries to set up zero effluent discharge system within two years.Some of the other recommendations include lighting arrangements on factory backyards, online monitoring systems, delay-pond to hold back the waste water for four hours and special energy meters to keep tabs on the continuous running of these equipment in all industrial units.
The Hindu, Thursday, Jul 31, 2008
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