Public are up in arms against a private dyeing unit functioning at Mookanankurichi near Karur alleging that the unit was spoiling the nearby public water utilities . Though the unit claims to function under strict zero liquid discharge norms, in effect it is not the case, the public aver.
The dyeing unit concerned is located between Mookanankurichi and Manavadi panchayats a few kilometres from the town.
The dyeing unit has been functioning for quite some years now and following the Madras High Court mandate directing all dyeing units in Karur district to establish zero liquid discharge norms to continue operations, the unit has been continuing operations installing the mechanism.
Yet the villagers allege that the dyeing unit has been dumping treated and untreated effluents into a well in the vicinity polluting the water source and also spoiling other water utilities in the zone. The water discharged from the unit also percolates down the soil to ruin other wells and water spots.
Agricultural open wells, bore wells supplying drinking water to the public of the region, a couple of tanks and even the water point at the government higher secondary school besides hundreds of acres of farm lands.
Since the area depends largely on bore wells for irrigation, livestock feeding and personal use requirements, spoiling of water sources affects the entire locality and its inhabitants, the public alleged in a memorandum submitted to District Collector S. Jayandhi.
The public led by the Thanthoni Union chairman Ramalingam, panchayat presidents Sivasamy and Lakshmi and others also claim in the memorandum that contagious diseases are afflicting the residents of the zone.
Following the representation, the district administration directed the officials of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to inspect the unit.
The officials, after a visit to the unit, claimed that there was no pollution since the unit has not been functioning for the past week or so.
However, the officials have taken water sample from sources in the region to verify the claims of the public and elected local body representatives in the zone.
Reacting to development the public and the complainants have ridiculed the ``certificate of good conduct’’ given to the polluting unit saying there should be an objective study to ascertain the truth.
