A Kerala village under threat: How chemical-laced soil struck fear into Eriyad

Thrissur (Kerala): Residents of Eriyad Grama Panchayat in Thrissur are in a state of panic after plot owners filled their lands using chemical-contaminated soil brought from the premises of the Binani Zinc factory in Edayar, Ernakulam, a facility shut down 12 years ago.

Inspections by the Pollution Control Board (PCB) confirmed heavy contamination of cadmium and lead in the soil, with samples indicating pollution levels three times higher than permissible limits.

While the standard acceptable limit for cadmium in soil is 1 mg per litre, the samples here registered 3.06 mg. Similarly, lead levels were recorded at 14.7 mg, compared to the permissible standard of 5 mg.

Samples collected by the PCB yielded identical results when tested at the Agricultural University. Additional samples have since been gathered and dispatched to the PCB laboratory in Eloor for further analysis.

The factory, which manufactured zinc and sulphuric acid, commenced operations in 1967. Over time, chemical waste seeped into the soil, rendering over 500 surrounding wells unusable and causing widespread health issues among local residents.

Drinking water in that area is currently supplied through Kerala Water Authority pipelines. Local residents in Eriyad now fear a similar plight. Various organisations and political parties have launched agitations demanding the immediate removal of the contaminated soil.

Although the District Collector instructed the panchayat to clear the soil at the expense of the landowners, the property owners claim they were duped by the lorry operators who contracted the work, arguing that losses should be recovered from the drivers instead. A few land owners, however, have agreed to clear the soil at their own expense. Meanwhile, Kodungallur Police has registered a case against 19 individuals, including land owners and lorry drivers. The situation came to light in early May when locals, suspicious of lorries carrying soil from the Binani Zinc premises, tailed the vehicles and discovered they were heading to Eriyad.

It has been established that 2,311 tonnes of soil were dumped across Wards 18 and 19 alone. Furthermore, there are suspicions that this soil has been dumped in Wards 3, 8 and 18, as well as in neighbouring Kaipamangalam and Mathilakam panchayats, the Kodungallur Municipality area, and used for National Highway construction.

Eriyad Panchayat has registered with Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL), a state-controlled company in Ambalamedu of Kochi, equipped to scientifically remove and process chemical waste. However, the operation remains stalled over the question of costs. Removing one tonne of contaminated soil requires ₹2,396 plus 18 per cent tax.