Tamil Nadu

A joint effort to fight pollution of rivers

THENI: For the first time, environmental scientists, lawyers’ forums, farmers associations and non-governmental organisations in the district have joined to fight pollution of rivers and other irrigation sources and to protect them.

While environmentalists will generate all information and collect data on level and type of pollution of water bodies and create an awareness among people and college and school students of the need for protecting eco-system, lawyers will extend all assistance to farmers and environmental scientists in handling these issues legally for remedy.

To begin with, lawyers and scientists will organise a public hearing at all panchayats to know various environment problems faced by farmers in remote villages and create a massive awareness among people. They will fight eco-disasters also.

These decisions were made at a special meeting on degradation of environment in Theni district meant for environmental scientists, lawyers and affected farmers here on Saturday.

In his inaugural address, Periyar Five Districts Farmers Association secretary K. M. Abbas said that Theni district had been slowly converted into a dustbin for Kerala. Already, Kerala dumped hospital wastes near Cumbum Mettu. More over, drainage and human wastes generated in over 200 lodges and toilets inside Kumuli bus stand were drained into Mullai Periyar dam and lead channel. Periyar water, main drinking water and irrigation sources had been severely polluted. Kumili municipal administration had served over 2,000 notices. But nothing had been done so far. We had sufficient laws to protect our water sources. But they were not implemented effectively, he deplored.

Kerala alone was not polluting the Cumbum valley. Local bodies in the valley too did the maximum harm to water bodies and lands. Municipal wastes had been dumped on both sides of the National Highway and sewage water indiscriminately drained into the Mullai Periyar, he said.

In his special address, State-level programme convener L. Antonysamy said pollution level had gone manifold even before local people realised its impact. The meeting appealed to the Government not to grant permission to start industries polluting environment in the district.

In her address, Federation of Vaigai Women secretary Vijayarani said nine major irrigation tanks on the Varusaha Nadu hill were under massive encroachment. Water table which was just 20 feet in 1993 had gone below 500 feet, owing to destruction of water resources on the hill.

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