Sewage pollution: PCB awaits court directive before initiating further steps

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) will initiate further steps on the lack of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in apartment complexes and commercial units in Kochi based on the outcome of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Apartment Owners Apex Association (Kerala) before the Kerala High Court.

The board had earlier sent notices to 71 apartment complexes and commercial units located close to the Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally canals for not having STPs. The Kerala State Electricity Board had issued power disconnection notices to the units based on the board’s recommendation.

PCB officials said only a few apartment complexes had initiated work on setting up STPs after receiving the notices. A majority of apartment associations had yet to ensure compliance as they were awaiting the outcome of the PIL. Till then, they would not initiate any further steps, they said.

In its affidavit, the association had quoted a Government Order dated May 10, 2025, that referred to the establishment of STPs, sewer network, sanitation facilities, and solid waste management as components of the Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) project for the development of canals in Kochi.

The setting up of four STPs at Vennala, Muttar, Perandoor, and Elamkulam and the connected sewer lines catering to the minimum requirements of canals were included in the project at a cost of ₹393.13 crore.

The PIL had said that the sewer networking proposed by the Kochi Corporation/Kerala Water Authority would be completed by the time each of the old apartment complexes completed the formalities and obtained consent to operate STPs.