Date:21/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122157480600.htm

Tamil Nadu

“Prevent pollution of Amaravathy”

Staff Reporter

Farmers for the setting up of a high level committee

KARUR: Farmers in Karur district whose fields are irrigated by river Amaravathy have urged the district administration to take concrete and immediate steps to further prevent pollution of the river. They have also called upon the administration to constitute a high level committee comprising among others farmers and representatives from voluntary organizations.

In a petition submitted to the District Collector J. Umamaheswari, president of Karur District Groundwater Resources Protection Association K. Ramasamy, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam Karur district president Marappan and District Convener of the Tamil Nadu Movement for Right to Education and Livelihood Sudar Thennarasu have called upon the authorities to take stringent action against those polluting river Amaravathy by dumping effluents in that river and channels under Sections 33 and 33(a) of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, take steps to protect the livelihood and essential rights of the public by punishing violators under the Environment Conservation Act 1986.

They also called upon the administration to direct the authorities of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to enforce strictly provisions of the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1989 and take adequate steps to prevent and reverse pollution caused to water resources and protect the public.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ramasamy observed that pollution has greatly affected villages including Karuppampalayam, Thoranakkalpatti, Sukkaliyur, Sellandipalayam, Thirumanilayur, Rayanur, Kolandagoundanur, Pasupathypalayam, Melapalayam, Sanapiratti, Vellalapatti, P. Kalipalayam, Vadakkupalayam, Narikattiyur and Puliyur on the southern banks of River Amaravathy.

Likewise villages including Andankoil, Karur town, Panjamadevi, Sellipalayam and Koyampalli on the northern banks of the river have been immensely affected. “Affected farmers, villagers, social activists and environmental activists have come together to fight for keeping alive the water sources and we all stress that it could be achieved only by preventing dumping of effluents in the river and channels,” he added.

Moreover, the effluents and the chemicals in those effluents have damaged all the shutters and sluices in the channels that branch off River Amaravathy and they were not working properly. Authorities should take steps to repair them, Mr. Ramsamy and Mr. Thennarasu said.