Kerala local body urges Tamil Nadu to prevent human waste flow into Mullaperiyar dam

The Kumily panchayat in Idukki has urged Tamil Nadu to take immediate steps to stop human waste from flowing into the Mullaperiyar dam from its side of the border.

In a letter submitted to the Tamil Nadu executive engineer of the Periyar dam section, Kumily panchayat president M. M. Varghese said human waste from Tamil Nadu is polluting the Mullaperiyar dam water and demanded swift action to address the issue.

“Due to the absence of adequate toilet facilities in a bus stop in Tamil Nadu near the Kerala border, passengers are often resorting to open defecation and urination in the surrounding areas,” Mr. Varghese wrote in the letter. During the rains, rainwater carries the waste to the dam, he said. “This poses a serious threat to the environment as well as public health. Therefore, we request immediate and effective measures be taken, in coordination with the concerned authorities, to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into the reservoir,” according to the letter.

Recently, Cumbum MLA and other officials from Tamil Nadu had raised serious concerns that untreated wastewater from commercial and tourism establishments in Kumily flows into the dam, which serves as a vital water source for southern Tamil Nadu districts. They had demanded immediate action from Kerala authorities.

Action taken

Responding to these claims, Mr. Varghese said the panchayat has already cleaned its streams and culverts and taken effective steps to prevent polluted water from reaching the dam.

The panchayat president added that the Government of Kerala has also initiated steps to establish a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) through the coordinated efforts of various departments. As part of the project’s preliminary stage, a meeting has been proposed with the Idukki District Collector to discuss land acquisition.

Kumily panchayat secretary R. Ashokkumar said the local authorities will proceed based on directives from the district administration. “The panchayat has already begun initiatives to prevent illegal waste discharge into drains and streams. Strict enforcement will continue,” he said.