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Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Eloor most polluted in state: Report
Kochi: Eloor in Ernakulam district is the most polluted place in the state, according to Centre for Research on Clean Air and Energy mid-year (Jan to June 2025) assessment report on air quality in India. None of Kerala's cities appear in the cleanest city list. Eloor, with the concentration of particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) at 37 micrograms per cubic metre (mg/m3), ranked 21 out of a total of 29 most polluted places in India. Although, by Indian standards, PM 2.5 level is satisfactory, it is much above the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This, according to health experts, is causing problems to Eloor residents who are at an increased risk of respiratory problems. WHO states that a good level is below 10mg/m3 for annual average and below 25mg/m3 for 24 hours. However, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a good level of PM 2.5 is 0-60mg/m3 for 24 hours. Air pollution in Eloor municipality is mainly due to several industries in the 435-acre Eloor-Edayar industrial area on the banks of Periyar river, with the most affected being residents of Illanjikkal ward, Eloor East, Mepirikunnu and Pathalam divisions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "There are four major companies, including three public sector companies, functioning along the 8km stretch within the municipality limits. However, we suspect that pollution is more from industries on the other side of Periyar river in Kadungallur. Smoke emanates from a chicken bone processing unit in the estate, making life miserable for thousands of people," said Eloor municipal chairman A D Sujil. Due to poor air quality, residents face breathing issues, kidney ailments and other ailments, said K A Mahin, councillor of Mepirikunnu. "A large number of red category industries function here without meeting necessary standards and beyond capacity, causing pollution. The floor of our houses are frequently layered with black dust particles. Authorities must conduct a survey on respiratory problems in the area, thus revealing the true picture," he said. Pulmonologists echo the concerns. "Eloor and Irumpanam are hotspots of air pollution in Kerala. People with respiratory illnesses, cardiac issues, allergies and the elderly will face difficulties in places with poor air quality," said pulmonologist Dr Paramez A R. According to atmospheric scientists, the only way to reduce pollution is to raise green cover. "Air pollution is caused by industries and vehicles emitting pollutants like PM 2.5. It is a localised factor. In Eloor, it is industries, whereas in cities, it is the increasing number of vehicles. Contents in the particulate matter depend on the source of pollution. To reduce emission of air pollutants, industrial production and the number of vehicles will have to be reduced, which will be difficult," said Dr K Satheesan, professor in Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Cusat.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Eloor municipality launches project to revive fallow paddy fields
Kochi: In a major step to revive its agricultural legacy, Eloor municipality has initiated a project to bring fallow paddy fields back under cultivation. Phase I of the initiative targets Vadakkumbhagam and Kundoppadam fields. In Vadakkumbhagam, around 20 acres of long-abandoned paddy land will be brought under cultivation. The project is designed in collaboration with agriculture department. A registered paddy cultivation committee has been formed to oversee implementation, based on a decision by Wetland Protection Committee. Municipality chairman A D Sujil stated that under People's Planning Programme, municipality allocated Rs 35,000 per hectare for a total of 36 acres. The short-duration 'Pournami' rice variety, which matures in 120 days, was chosen for cultivation. Land preparation is currently under way and a transplanting festival is scheduled within next three weeks. Additionally, to support irrigation needs in the upcoming farming season, municipality sanctioned Rs 8.35 lakh to minor irrigation department for renovation of a pump and pumphouse that were damaged in 2018 floods.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
How Kerala's Eloor municipality turned landfill site into football field
Until 2015, the landfill site in Kuzhikkandam in Kerala's municipal town of Eloor was the place where the town dumped its waste. Teeming with mounds and mounds of perishables, paper and plastic, the landfill's putrid stench that hung in the air for kilometres. Today, the dump yard has turned into a newly-built football turf — complete with lush green lawns, paved pathways and gleaming green grills – all thanks to the local civic body's scientific and decentralised waste management. Undertaken under the state government's Ambedkar Village Development Programme for the integrated development of Dalit settlements, the new football ground was thrown open to the public Monday. Significantly, the site is close to a Dalit settlement. While inaugurating the ground, Industries Minister P Rajeeve, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator from Kalamassery assembly constituency under which the town falls, said there were many who raised doubts about whether a dumping yard can be turned into a playground. The landfill — measuring 0.49 acres — was closed in 2015 following protests from locals. 'When the local body closed down the yard (in 2015), many continued to dump their waste there in breach of decision. The municipality took action against it, even as it rolled out many steps for scientific waste management. Now, Eloor municipality has become a role model in waste management,' the minister said. According to the minister, the state government chipped in Rs 40 lakh for the football turf while the CPI(M)-ruled municipality paid Rs 20 lakh. 'Over a decade back, local CPI(M) leaders, including me, had led agitations against dumping of the waste near the Dalit settlement,' municipal chairperson A D Sujil told The Indian Express. 'In 2015, the municipal council decided to close the garbage yard and we launched the Clean Eloor project, which led to a makeover of the municipality.' According to officials, following the 2015 closure of the landfill, the local body set up aerobic compost bins in various parts of the town as part of its 'Clean Eloor' project. The civic body's initiative to engage women to collect plastic waste from houses later eventually evolved into one of Kerala's flagship programmes – the Haritha Karma Sena, a force of women employed by a local body for collection of non-degradable domestic waste, Sujit says. In 2018, Eloor became among the first municipal bodies to launch the Haritha Karma Sena. According to Sujil, the idea of converting the garbage yard into a football ground came after P Rajeeve became legislator in 2021. 'Legacy waste in the yard was segregated into degradable and non-degradable and taken out. Members of Haritha Karma Sena collected all types of non-biodegradable waste from 12,000-odd houses in the municipality. The sena covers around 99 percent of households in the municipality. For processing biodegradable waste, the municipality has biocomposite bins in houses and public places as well,' he said, adding that it was after this that work on the football field began. Still talking about Haritha Karma Sena, Sujitv said the civic body currently has 32 women as members of the body. 'A member of the Sena earns at least Rs 21,000 from the user fee collected from households and the sale of non-biodegradable waste, including plastic, glassware and e-waste, collected from households. These women, mainly from BPL families, also get a bonus from the consortium,' he said. Last week, a team of officials from the Goa State Livelihood Mission visited Eloor to study the functioning of the Haritha Karma Sena.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Eloor Amrut project: Cabinet approves tender for overhead reservoir
Kochi: State cabinet has granted approval for the tender to construct an overhead service reservoir in Eloor municipality under Amrut 2.0 scheme . The project aims to address drinking water shortage in Manjummel area. The tender is for construction of a 15-lakh-litre capacity overhead reservoir near old Ayurveda College. The project, estimated at ₹6.23 crore, was awarded to Noble Tech Engineering Pvt Ltd. "Efforts will be made to complete the project at the earliest. Once completed, the reservoir is expected to provide a lasting solution to the drinking water scarcity in Manjummel and nearby regions," said municipality chairperson AD Sujil. Meanwhile, on Thursday, industries minister P Rajeeve inaugurated EMS Park, the first public park in Eloor municipality. The park has been developed at New Road Junction on land owned by the municipality, at a cost of Rs 70 lakh. "The park features an open-air stage, open gym and a children's play area. Work is also progressing to install a 100-inch television, advanced lighting and a sound system. Additionally, the park includes a small reading corner and a drinking water kiosk. It will be open to public during designated hours in the morning and evening," said Sujil.
