The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has ordered the immediate closure of Freshcut poultry waste rendering unit at Ambayathode near Thamarassery in Kozhikode.

The closure order, issued on Wednesday under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, directed the company to stop all treatment works with immediate effect.

The board said the action followed repeated public complaints regarding pollution, continued violations despite earlier regulatory actions, and the persistent environmental impact on nearby residential areas.

The latest order referring to an earlier direction issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, on December 10, 2024, and the consent to operate granted to the unit on August 7, 2025, subject to specific conditions, noted that the company had failed to comply with the conditions. A recently submitted public grievance citing the alleged negligence on the part of the company in proceeding with recycling operations even after the plant was hit by stormwater was also considered while issuing the order.

Expressing delight over the PCB’s decision, members of a local action committee organised public demonstrations at Koodathayi and Thamarassery on Wednesday evening. Thampi Parakandathil, the chief patron of the committee, said the demonstrations attracted mass participation of residents. He added it was the peaceful culmination of an agitation that continued for over six years, upholding a humanitarian issue.

The Kattippara facility, which started functioning in 2014, had been at the centre of various controversies and intense agitations for more than five years. Residents of Kattippara, Ambayathode, and neighbouring areas were mostly part of the protests alleging that the plant emitted foul odour, contaminated nearby water sources, and challenged public health.

The issue attracted State-wide attention last year when protests against the unit turned violent, resulting in clashes between demonstrators and the police. Several police personnel and protesters were injured, while the plant and vehicles on its premises were damaged in arson.

Although the factory later resumed operations under various court orders and administrative restrictions, including limits on waste processing capacity and operational timings, opposition from residents and several political parties continued.

The latest order came at a time when residents were preparing to intensify their agitation seeking the permanent closure of the unit. Local action committee leaders welcomed the board’s decision and urged the authorities to ensure its strict implementation. Meanwhile, factory sources indicated that it would challenge the order through legal proceedings.

Published - August 05, 2026 08:34 pm IST