Lok Sabha Question No. 986 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Inquiry into Repeated Fish Kills in Periyar River
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 986

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## Inquiry into Repeated Fish Kills in Periyar River

## 986. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recent mass fish kill in Periyar River on the night of 20th May 2023, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the number of incidents of fish kills reported in the Periyar River during the year 2024, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has identified the main causes for these recurring fish kills, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to monitor and control the release of industrial effluents into the river;
- (e) whether the Government has investigated the explosion at the animal fat processing unit and the subsequent fire at a Chemicals unit in Edayar, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  any  penalties  or  actions  have  been  taken  against  industries  found  violating environmental regulations in this area, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c)

As per the information received from Kerala State Pollution Control Board, the incident of fish mortality was observed on the midnight of May 20th, 2024, affecting the entire stretch by  the  following  day  afternoon.  The  Kerala  State  Pollution  Control  Board  (KSPCB) surveillance team inspected the site and observed various types of dead fish floating in the river. On analysis of water samples, dissolved oxygen (DO) values were found below that required  for  survival  of  fish.  It  was  informed  that  on  20.05.2024  at  3  pm,  the  Irrigation Department opened 3 shutters of the Pathalam regulator cum bridge due to intensified rainfall. The subsequent release of water with low dissolved oxygen levels from the upper side of the regulator, combined with a significant downstream flow, lead to fish mortality.  As per the analysis conducted on 20.05.2024 at Vettukadav, the DO level decreased from 6.8 mg/l to 3.2 mg/l by night due to the above said activity. It has been noted previously that during prolonged closure of the bund during summer season, organic waste reaches the river upstream causing organic degradation and resulting in depletion of DO  near the regulation bridge. Investigations suggested that the sudden, continuous, and strong water flow resulting from the opening of the bund caused a sharp decline in the value of DO at downstream and hence the incident. There has been only one fish kill incident in the river Periyar and it occurred on 20.05.2024.

## (d) to (f)

The Government of India notifies industry-specific standards for discharge and emission of environmental  pollutants  under  Schedule-I:  'Standards  for  Emission  or  Discharge  of Environmental Pollutants from various Industries' of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 to  monitor  and  control  the  release  of  industrial  effluents  into  the  river;.  So  far,  industry specific environmental standards, for 79 industrial sectors, including effluent standards for 46 industrial sectors, have been notified. Industrial sectors, for which specific standards are not available, general standards as notified under Schedule-VI of Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable.  The concerned State  Pollution  Control Board/Committee  ensures  the implementation of said standards. In case of non-compliance with the environmental norms, appropriate action is taken as per the provisions of the environmental laws.

As per the information submitted by the Kerala State Pollution Board (KSPCB), Eloor-Edayar area in Ernakulam district is the major industrial area in Kerala where industries are located on either sides of River Periyar in its lower stretches. The Board has taken necessary steps to ensure safe disposal of all types of wastes from these industries and to facilitate preservation of the river and ambient air and also to redress the overall environmental issues in that area. An office of the Board (Environmental Surveillance center) is functioning in Eloor round the clock for continuous monitoring of the industries in the area.

Inspection  of  industries  located  in  the  Eloor-Edayar  industrial  area  are  carried  out  by  the Kerala  State  Pollution  Control  Board  as  part  of  regular  compliance  monitoring.  Periodic sampling is done in effluent-generating industries and based on any non-compliance found, letters/  notices/  orders/  directions  are  issued  to  the  non-complying  industries.  Details  of actions under various statutes taken against industries in Eloor-Edayar industrial area during the period from April 2024 to January 2025, are given at Annexure I .

Further, Kerala State Pollution Control Board had carried out inspections of Boiler explosion at Formal Trade Links on 07.10.2024 and the Fire incident at Jyothis Industries on 07.01.2025. Necessary action  by the concerned agencies is taken as per law.

***

Annexure I Details of actions under various statutes taken against industries by KSPCB

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Industry                           | Date of Visits                                                         | Letter / Notice/ Direction issued based on non- compliance with consent conditions              | Present status and details of Letter / Notice/ Direction issued based on non- compliance   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | M/s. PRIME METAL COATS                         | 08.11.2024                                                             | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ; | Not complied                                                                               |
|         2 | M/s. MATHRUBHUMI PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO.LTD. | 06.08.2024, 06.09.2024, 23.12.2024                                     | Notice issued                                                                                   | Complied                                                                                   |
|         3 | M/s.BIOCON ORGANICS PVT. LTD.                  | 29.07.2024, 04.09.2024, 09.10.2024, 19.10.2024, 28.10.2024, 02.12.2024 | Closure Order (under Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) issued;       | Closure order revoked after verifying the rectification of non compliances                 |
|         4 | M/s.NATIONAL INDUSTRIES                        | 04.09.2024, 28.10.2024                                                 | Closure Order (under Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) issued.       | Closure order revoked after verifying the rectification of non compliances                 |
|         5 | M/s.NELKADIR BONE                              | 04.09.2024, 28.10.2024                                                 | Closure Order (under Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) issued;       | Not complied                                                                               |
|         6 | M/s.YEOMAN BONE AND ALLIED                     | 04.09.2024                                                             | Closure Order (under Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) issued;       | Closure order revoked after verifying the rectification of non compliances                 |
|         7 | M/s.JKS INDUSTRIES                             | 17.08.2024, 28.09.2024                                                 | Closure Order (under Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) issued;       | Complied                                                                                   |
|         8 | M/s.SUNRISE TSR FACTORY                        | 17.08.2024, 28.09.2024, 21.10.2024, 17.01.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;  | Complied                                                                                   |

|   9 | M/s.MAHAVEER RUBBER INDUSTRIES   | 17.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|-----|----------------------------------|------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|  10 | M/s.ESSAR ENTERPRISES            | 16.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|  11 | M/s.SIYA ENTERPRISES             | 17.08.2024, 28.09.2024, 21.10.2024 | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33Aof the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;    | Complied                                               |
|  12 | M/s.FIVE STAR INDUSTRIES         | 17.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|  13 | M/s.FORMAL TRADE LINKS LLP       | 17.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|  14 | M/s.GIJAS RUBBERS                | 17.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|  15 | M/s. PANCHAMI AGRO               | 17.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|  16 | M/s.RUBBER O MALABAR             | 17.08.2024                         | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |
|  17 | M/s.ARISTO STEEL FABRICATORS     |                                    | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Unit not operational now and rectification progressing |
|  18 | M/s.HI POWER INDUSTRIES          | 16.08.2024, 20.12.2024, 03.11.2024 | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ;   | Complied                                               |

|   19 | M/S. ORGANO FERTILIZERS                        | 04.09.2024, 16.11.2024             | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33Aofthe Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act)     | Action under processing        |
|------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|   20 | M/s.ALPHA CRUMB RUB                            | 16.12.2024, 21.10.2024, 16.01.2024 | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ; | Not complied                   |
|   21 | M/s.KOCHI PLAST SOLUTIONS                      | 24.09.2024                         | Notice issued                                                                                   | Not complied                   |
|   22 | M/s.SICGIL INDUSTRIAL GASES LTD                | 18.09.2024                         | Notice issued                                                                                   | Complied                       |
|   23 | M/s.JOYCE INDUSTRIES                           |                                    | Notice issued                                                                                   | Complied                       |
|   24 | M/s.SUCCESS EMPOWERMENT                        |                                    | Notice issued                                                                                   | Not complied                   |
|   25 | M/s.GAYATHRI INDUSTRIES                        |                                    | Notice issued                                                                                   | Complied                       |
|   26 | M/s.MICROTROL STERILISATION SERVICES PVT. LTD. | 28.10.2024                         | Notice issued                                                                                   | Complied                       |
|   27 | M/s.EXELON HI FABS                             |                                    | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ; | Not complied, Action initiated |
|   28 | M/s.MAHINDRA LOGISTICS                         |                                    | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ; | Not complied                   |
|   29 | M/s.ASIATIC PRODUCTS                           |                                    | Closure intention notice issued (Section 33A of the Water Act and section 31A of the Air Act) ; | Not complied                   |