Damage caused to the bund of Moongil Kulam, a rural irrigation tank at Ponnimandurai Pudhupatti, and discharge of large quantum of tannery effluents that entered villages have raised concerns over health in a cluster of villages in Dindigul district.
Effluents had polluted Alankulam and Moongil Kulam tanks, causing damage to cultivable land, health of residents and cattle. Four calves died and several children and women had developed skin diseases, residents alleged.
“Water in wells has turned unfit for any use. We cannot use the water for washing and cleaning. It causes itching sensation in our skin. Many children have contracted skin diseases,” said K. Amudha of Pudhupatti.
“If there is heavy rain or floods or even forecast of rain, effluents stored in a tank on a patta land near Madurai-Dindigul National Highway 7 is released into these irrigation tanks discreetly,” alleged S. Royappan, another resident.
“The bund of Moongil Kulam is damaged often for letting effluents discharged from tanneries from nearby areas into it directly. Now, tannery effluents have contaminated both the tanks and flooded nearby villages, polluting well water,’ said the residents.
A huge haul of fish in the tank died immediately, they alleged.
Even as the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and tanners point to a common effluent treatment plant functioning on the Theni-Dindigul bypass, residents alleged that the tank water was violet in colour and a foul smell was emanating from it.
“We are tired of giving petitions to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the district administration against the discharge of effluents into these tanks. We have been struggling for the past three decades. Neither the TNPCB nor the district administration has initiated any action against tanners who discharge effluents into the waterbodies meant for irrigation,” said P. Sundar of Ponnimandurai.
The tank bund was strengthened long ago. Some unidentified persons had been damaging the bunds since 2008 for quick flow of tannery effluents automatically into the tank. Even people at Ramayanpatti on Palani highway felt its adverse impact, they complained.
Hundreds of acres of cultivable lands, particularly brinjal cultivation areas, had turned barren, groundwater was polluted beyond rehabilitation and surface soil was eroded at several villages around Dindigul, owing to indiscriminate discharge of effluents before the setting up of the CETP, recalled the residents.
“Agriculture has become a thing of the past. We cannot even raise fodder for cattle. We struggle to protect cattle and goats. Once again, our survival and life of our children are under threat,” they worried.
