Dyeing units in Namakkal dist discharge effluents into rivers

Namakkal: Dyeing units at Avathipalayam, Pallipalayam and Kumarapalayam have set up concrete structures to directly discharge untreated effluents into the Cauvery river. TOI has taken a few photographs of such channels laid between the dyeing units and the river.
One of the villagers, V Ravikumar, 38, of Avathipalayam, said the river’s colour had changed into camouflage as dyeing units were discharging untreated effluents directly into it.“While a few dyeing unit owners have laid underground plastic pipes to empty effluents into the river, a few others have constructed concrete channels,” he said.
More than 30,000 families at Komarapalayam and Pallipalayam towns are forced to use this water even for drinking purposes.
The villagers say more than 3,000 small textile dyeing units are functioning illegally in these two towns and discharging effluents into nearby water bodies including the river. Both towns are situated on the banks of the Cauvery and Bhavani rivers. All the dyeing units in these two towns are discharging untreated effluents because of the non-availability of the treatment plants.
A Aadhavan, an environmentalist from Pallipalayam said, “All the drains in these two towns are merging with the Cauvery river. Both sewage and effluent are mixing with the river.” He added that at least one lakh liters of untreated effluents are being mixed with the Cauvery river daily. He further stated that the groundwater is also getting contaminated.
“The borewell water has a foul smell and its colour has also changed,” he said.
Villagers have urged TNPCB officials to take stern action against owners of the illegal dyeing units for discharging untreated effluents and polluting rivers.
Namakkal district TNPCB environmental engineer K Manivannan has assured stern action against the illegal dyeing units at the earliest. Officials have been involved in monitoring the dyeing units and taking regular action against polluters.
“We will once again monitor the present situation and take necessary action,” he assured.