Effluent-mixed Rainwater
Effluent-mixed rainwater stagnating at LIC Colony at Selvapuram in Coimbatore. “We have stagnant effluents in almost every colour in our colonies,” an anguished K. Subbulakshmi said on Wednesday to explain the ordeal 300 families undergo at a few colonies at Selvarpuram in the city. Ms. Subbulakshmi, a Coimbatore Corporation councillor from Ward 55, said she and the residents were now determined to put to an end to the pollution that had been troubling them for more than 15 years. “Untreated effluents are being discharged into the Raja Vaikkal (a major canal in the Noyyal River system) by the dyeing and bleaching units at Telungupalayam. This is happening despite the units being warned by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board against doing so,” she said. On Wednesday, the councillor and the residents of Sridevi Nagar, LIC Colony, Raju Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and S.A. Nagar gathered at the spots where effluents mixed in rain water had formed pools of various colours.
They insisted that the owners of the units or their representatives and the officials of the pollution control board should come to the spot and assure them of a permanent solution. “Heavy flow in the canal pushes the effluents towards the residential colonies. Some people are not able to step out of their houses because of the stagnant effluent. Wading through it causes itching in the feet. If people remain at home, they have to endure a pungent smell,” Ms. Subbulakshmi said.
People working in private and government establishments, industrial unit workers and students were not able to go to work or school when effluent mixed water stagnated around their houses.Vanita Mohan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli, a public initiative to conserve water resources, said it was sad that people were held captive in their houses by the effluents. “But, it is astonishing that they have been enduring this for a long time. Apparently, they had not been aware of the environmental and health hazards posed by the effluents, until Siruthuli stepped in to highlight these following complaints from farmers,” she said.
People owning farms in nearby areas were members of the Farmers’ Forum of Siruthuli. They complained of their wells getting polluted. Project Co-ordinator of Siruthuli K. Mylsami said there were already reports of bore well rig operators finding effluents up to a depth of 50 ft. “They say that good water is found only after nearly an hour of drilling. If this continues, effluents will pollute the aquifer,” he said.
