Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod has sought the Chief Minister’s intervention to assuage the concerns of the residents of apartment complexes located close to the Thevara-Perandoor and Edappally canals, who were asked to set up adequate wastewater treatment facilities within seven days.The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had issued notices to the apartment owners to set up the facility before the deadline, failing which power supply would be disconnected.The KSEB had issued notices to 71 apartment complexes based on the directive of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The notices had said that the board would be constrained to direct the appropriate authority to disconnect the supply of electricity, water, and any other services to the buildings for violation of relevant norms.Mr. Vinod pointed out that a week’s time was too short a period to ensure compliance with the PCB. He alleged that the board lacked a list of recognised agencies capable of setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs). Some apartment complexes, which had received the notice last month, had initiated steps to install the plant. However, it may take up to 12 months to complete the work, he said in a communication on Friday (August 1).He added that the norms regarding STPs were not prevalent at the time of the construction of the apartment complexes. The owners had bought the apartments, confident that the Kochi Corporation had issued the occupancy certificate. He said that STPs should be installed. But the authorities should provide adequate time to install them and withhold their move to disconnect the power supply to the units, he said.Published - August 01, 2025 09:34 pm IST