The Eriyad Grama Panchayat has alleged that the district administration has shifted the responsibility of removing chemically contaminated sand used to reclaim wetlands, canals and other land in the panchayat onto the local body without providing financial assistance.
Panchayat President K.P. Rajan said nearly ₹2 crore would be required to remove the contaminated soil from affected areas, adding that the panchayat has no means to raise such a large amount. He said clearing the waste from just two wards alone is estimated to cost around ₹45 lakh.
Although the District Collector had directed the panchayat to remove the contaminated soil and recover the expenses from the landowners, Rajan said the process would require the support of the Revenue Department. He alleged that the department’s inaction has further worsened the hardships faced by local residents.
Scientific tests conducted by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board on the soil used for land reclamation reportedly detected hazardous levels of zinc, lead, cadmium, manganese, cobalt, copper, arsenic, mercury and chromium, raising serious environmental and public health concerns.
According to the panchayat, the contaminated sand originated from a chemical factory at Edayar in Ernakulam district, which had ceased operations. Since May, the material was allegedly transported and used for land reclamation under the guise of six-lane road construction, with claims that the activity was permitted under a High Court order.
The issue has sparked concern among residents and local authorities over the environmental impact and the responsibility for the removal and safe disposal of the hazardous waste.
