Reversal of the ecology of Palar River damaged by the pollution caused by tannery effluents is one of the key components of the award passed by the Loss Of Ecology (Prevention and Payment of Compensation) Authority (LOEA) for the Tamil Nadu government in 2001. But none of the schemes have materialised so far.
According to a letter dated July 2, 2013 sent to M. Adbul Rahman, Vellore MP, the Under Secretary of the LOEA had stated that the basic report identifying the schemes for reversing the damage caused to the ecology was prepared by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore through R.K. Sivanappan, renowned scientist in agriculture and watershed management who made a field visit and held discussions with the various government departments in the district. The report was discussed with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute; Central Pollution Control Board; Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board; the Public Works Department of the Tamil Nadu government and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Based on the discussion, the reversal schemes pertaining to Vellore district were framed for restoration of ecology and environment to its original position at a cost of Rs. 122 crore and sent the same to the Tamil Nadu government for implementation.
As per the orders of the Tamil Nadu government, the Vellore Collector formed a District Level Working Committee in his order dated April 5, 2005 to implement the reversal schemes of the LOEA under the chairmanship of the District Collector. But, the committee did not make any headway in the last eight years.
The LOEA submitted that if the schemes framed by the Authority were fully implemented, the pollution load in the Palar River Basin would be considerably reduced.
Mr. Abdul Rahman had in identical letters sent to the Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan and the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa pleaded for speedy commencement of the work on execution of the schemes considering the importance of the need for reversal of ecology.
Inquiries with government sources revealed that the Department of Environment of the Tamil Nadu government is of the view that any scheme for reversal of ecology in the Palar could be implemented only after completely stopping the pollution of the river by the tannery effluents.
