Kerala PCB flags faulty odour-control systems at Edayar industrial units
Kerala PCB inspections at Edayar industrial units found faulty biofilters and poor upkeep. Seven units were served notices under the Air Act.
Inspections by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board's Environmental Surveillance Centre in Eloor have uncovered significant gaps in air pollution control measures at industrial units in the Edayar area. The checks, focused on bone meal units, chicken waste rendering plants, and rubber processing facilities, revealed poor emission control systems and inadequate maintenance of biofilter units meant to mitigate odour.
As of September 1, 2026, notices have been issued to seven of the 20 units inspected, under the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The action follows a meeting convened by the board on Monday, where elected representatives and environmentalists from Eloor municipality and Kadungalloor panchayat demanded immediate action against non-compliant units.
Board officials said the primary lapses were in the operation and maintenance of odour control measures. These units are required to install air pollution control systems, including biofilters with biomedia, to manage emissions. The inspections found that biofiltration efficiency was compromised by improper selection of filling material and poor operational practices. This led to the release of odour and volatile organic compounds during raw material processing and plant operation.
Housekeeping was another area of concern. Several units lacked cleanliness and adequate facilities for raw material storage. Some were also found to be missing proper ventilation and refrigeration systems for storing inputs.
V. Narendra Kumar, president of the Edayar Small-Scale Industries Association, noted that most units have improved compliance since installing the measures prescribed by the board. He said member units have been asked to promptly address any remaining lapses.
A September 2023 study by the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, had earlier highlighted that poor operational efficiency was causing the release of odour and volatile organic compounds from these units.