Black colouration in Bhavani river lands Jadayampalayam and Bellepalayam panchayats near Mettupalayam in water crisis

Residents in Mettupalayam taluk face water shortage due to brackishness, suspected to be caused by dyeing units' effluent discharge.

Residents of Jadayampalayam and Bellepalayam panchayats in Mettupalayam taluk have their fingers crossed as brackishness of the water at the pumping points along Bhavani river for the last one week has left them with no option but to manage with supplies lesser than 20% of the water requirement.

A team of officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Tamil Nadu Water Supplies and Drainage Board has taken the samples of the water for testing. While stating that it is unfit for consumption, the team is yet to confirm the public’s apprehension about the discharge of untreated effluents by dyeing units to be the cause.

Official sources said three dyeing units that were found functioning without authorisation were ordered to shut their operations forthwith.

However, representatives of the local bodies claimed there are a number of dyeing units in the villages that are letting effluent into the river without treatment.

The two panchayats are learnt to have urged the TWAD Board to prevail upon the Tiruppur Corporation that draws water for its fourth phase of combined drinking water scheme from the river to share from its accrual.

However, the Corporation has not received any formal request to that effect, officials confirmed.

The Coimbatore district administration has instructed the Pollution Control Board and TWAD Board to look at the possibility for establishing an intake well upstream of the polluted point in the long run.