Namakkal: Illegal dyeing units in Pallipalayam, which is on the border of Erode district, and Kumarapalayam, a textile town on the bank of the Cauvery, are letting out untreated effluents into the river, polluting it.
R Ganesan, an environmentalist from Kumarapalayam, said the dyeing unit owners had laid underground pipelines to take the effluents to the Cauvery that passes through Namakkal and Erode districts.
“More than 20,000 families in these two towns are affected because of this. They have no other option but to use the polluted water for drinking purposes,” he said.
According to Ganesan, more than 3,000 small textile dyeing units are functioning illegally in Kumarapalayam and Pallipalayam areas. “All of them are discharging untreated effluents into the Cauvery.”
Pointing out that both the areas lacked effluent treatment plants, he said “Every day, they are letting out a large quantity of untreated effluents into the river. By polluting the river, they are also putting the health of local residents at risk.”
The residents said the dyeing units had contaminated the bore water as well and they were completely dependent on municipal water supply for daily requirements.
When contacted, M Selvakumar, Namakkal district environmental engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, said they used to inspect the areas at regular intervals and take appropriate action against the polluters. “We will monitor the present situation and take necessary action,” he said.