Wed Jul 23 18:28:24 UTC 2025: **Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, formatted for “The Hindu” publication:**
**The Hindu: Kerala Power Supply to Be Cut for Over 70 Buildings Violating Environmental Norms**
**KOCHI, July 23, 2025** – The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) will direct the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to disconnect power supply to over 70 apartment complexes and commercial buildings near the Thevara–Perandoor and Edappally canals. This action comes as a result of these units failing to establish adequate wastewater treatment facilities, a violation of environmental regulations.
The PCB had previously issued closure notices to approximately 88 units under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The notice warned that failure to comply would result in electricity, water, and other services being disconnected.
The Board will now issue directives to KSEB Assistant Engineers to proceed with the electricity disconnections. This action follows the expiry of a 15-day notice period, during which many units failed to respond adequately, either not submitting replies or refusing to accept the notices. Some submitted replies were deemed unsatisfactory.
Furthermore, investigations revealed that some units with sewage treatment plants had not obtained the mandatory consent from the Board for the discharge of treated effluent, as required under Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The PCB’s actions are driven by directives from the National Green Tribunal and the Kerala High Court, both of which have expressed serious concerns about the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the canals by these violating units. The move is a significant step towards enforcing environmental regulations and protecting Kerala’s waterways from pollution.
First Piper 