Pathanamthitta, August 26, 2013: Waste flowing into the Pampa has polluted the bathing ghats of Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula.

The district administration, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, and the Travancore Devaswom Board have not taken effective steps to contain the pollution, despite public demand over the past seven years.

Waste generated at the temple ‘Oottupura’ on the banks of the Pampa and leaky waste collection tanks have been blamed for the pollution of the river. The pollution count goes up considerably with the beginning of the annual Vallasadya season.

The Palliyoda Seva Sanghom authorities said as many as 450 feasts (Vallasadya) would be held at the temple during July, August, and September and about a lakh people were expected to partake of the mega feast, Ashtami-Rohini Vallasadya, alone.

Dumping of leftovers of the feast and plantain leaves on the river bank has aggravated the problem.

The liquid waste storage tank near to the temple ghats have been leaking, emptying out the untreated filth into the Pampa. The leaking public toilets near the ghats also add to the pollution, posing a health hazard.

Though the Kerala High Court had ordered demolition of the toilets, the authorities have not yet acted on the directive.

On the intervention of K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA, a PCB team had inspected the site six years ago, directing the TDB to take steps to ensure strict compliance with pollution control norms. Former Collectors T.T. Antony and V.N. Jithendran too had taken up the issue.

The PCB and the State Sanitation Mission have prepared a project report and design of a biogas-cum-waste treatment plant at Aranmula at the instance of the MLA. However, the project still remains on paper.

Source: The Hindu, August 26, 2013