Overview

Clean air and clean drinking water are a thing of the past, in Eloor, a suburb of Kochi, India. Around 285 polluting industries are operating in Eloor and neighboring Edayar, badly affecting the local ecosystem. Over 100 pipes dump toxic liquids directly into the river Periyar and over 110 exhaust pipes pump poisonous gases into the air. A study related to fish in the river Periyar showed that fish species have been reduced from 35 to 12. Fisherman used to catch around 3 to 7 kilograms of fish a day, whereas now they find, on average, 300 grams. The Pollution Control Board has taken no action against these company, despite damning studies, public dismay and organized actions.