A joint committee of experts appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has concluded that the now-closed Binani Zinc Limited in Adyar is responsible for the pollution of the nearby Edayattuchal and Chakrachal paddy fields.
Analysis of soil/sediment/water samples revealed that seepage from jarosite pond in the company premises has caused contamination in paddy fields. The committee recommended that the unit bear the cost of reclamation of the land.
It added, “After the proposed trial run study, it would be necessary to assess the feasibility of the proposal for utilization of xerocyte stored within the industry premises, to decide on the remedial aspects.”
The analysis of jarosite samples carried out by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) revealed that the total concentration of chromium was 45.35 mg/l against the permissible limit of 5 mg/l, the report said. The values of other parameters including manganese, lead, copper and cadmium also showed more than the values as per the Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016.
The committee rejected the company’s claim that other industrial units in the area may have contributed to the pollution. It added that even though units including Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Limited, Sood Chemie and TMS Leather were still operational, only a small amount of waste was generated as compared to that generated by Binani Zinc. There was little chance of such heavy metals reaching Adayattuchal via Chakalathodu as the units were located on the banks of the Periyar.
Since the presence of heavy metals was already found in the soil samples collected from the Binani school grounds and the water samples from the nearest well, the claim of the respondent company was of no relevance, and the cost required for remediation had to be borne by it. It has been said in the report.