Fri Aug 01 16:04:31 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod has requested the Chief Minister’s intervention regarding notices issued by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to 71 apartment complexes in Kochi, ordering them to install wastewater treatment facilities within seven days or face power disconnection. These notices were prompted by concerns from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) regarding the discharge of untreated wastewater into canals, specifically the Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally canals. Mr. Vinod argues that the deadline is too short, there’s a lack of approved STP installers, and that STPs were not a requirement when the apartments were originally built. He requests authorities to allow more time for installation and avoid immediate power disconnections.

**News Article:**

**Kochi Apartment Residents Face Impending Power Cuts Over Wastewater Treatment Compliance**

**KOCHI, August 1, 2025** – Residents of numerous apartment complexes in Kochi are facing potential power disconnections following a strict directive from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to install wastewater treatment facilities within just seven days. The notices, issued to 71 apartment complexes, stem from concerns raised by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) regarding the untreated discharge of wastewater into local canals, including the heavily polluted Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally canals.

Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod has urgently appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene, citing the unreasonable timeframe and logistical challenges faced by residents. The KSEB’s actions are based on the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, threatening to cut off electricity and other services to non-compliant buildings.

“A week is simply not enough time to comply with these requirements,” stated Mr. Vinod. He also pointed out the lack of a readily available list of approved agencies capable of installing sewage treatment plants (STPs). He said some apartment complexes had initiated steps to install the plant after they received a notice last month, however, it may take up to 12 months to complete the work. He also argued that STP requirements weren’t in place when the apartments were constructed, and residents obtained occupancy certificates from the Kochi Corporation at the time of purchase.

Mr. Vinod is urging authorities to grant residents a more reasonable timeframe for STP installation and to refrain from immediate power disconnections. The situation has sparked widespread concern among apartment owners who now face a race against time to comply with the new regulations or risk losing essential services. The discharge of untreated wastewater into the Perandoor canal, as captured in a recent file photo, highlights the urgency of addressing this environmental issue.

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