Villagers allege exploitation of groundwater

Stating that industries in Sipcot, Perundurai, are discharging effluents into water bodies thus polluting the ground water, people from villages in the area came to the Collectorate with polluted water here on Monday.

They said that over 200 industries are functioning at Sipcot, including tannery, dyeing, tyre and retreading that discharge various effluents into the ground. In the absence of zero effluent discharge, the toxic effluent is let into the ground and water bodies in the area. Also, borewells are dug and the effluents are let into it, they alleged.

Villagers said that the ground water is completely contaminated in the area and they could not use the water even for domestic purpose. The sludge from tannery and dyeing units are packed in gunny bags and are stored on the premises and the waste from it enters the ground, they added.

Villagers said that due to the discharge, both the air and water got polluted, that is affecting humans, cattle and plants in the area. They said that violations galore in these industrial units and officials fail to initiate action against them. The said that many had died of cancer and other water-borne diseases and urged the administration to act immediately.

The government should not consider only the revenue from these industries, but it should also look into the welfare of the people, they added. Later, they submitted petition to District Collector S. Prabhakar, who assured to look into the issue.