Date:15/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121550070200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Padayatra against pollution

Special Correspondent

At Sirumugai in Mettupalayam taluk today

Industrial units pollute River Bhavani by discharging effluents into it

COIMBATORE: A group of farmers, environmental activists and educationists will take out a padayatra at Sirumugai in Mettupalayam taluk on December 15 in protest against the alleged pollution of River Bhavani.

The organisations participating in it include the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangham, National Farmers’ Awareness Movement, Indian Medical Association, lawyers’ association and the Bhavani River Water and Ground Water Protection Committee.

The organisers of the yatra said in a press release that former Vice-Chancellor Gandhigram Rural University N. Markandan and president of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangham M.R. Sivasamy would participate.

The release alleged that industrial units in Mettupalayam, Karamadai and Sirumugai polluted the river by discharging effluents into it. The discharge of untreated effluents polluted groundwater also.

Unsafe discharge of effluents posed the threat of diseases to the people living in these areas.