Expressing discontent over letting of effluents from private salt pans into Vaippar river in Vilathikulam taluk, the residents of Vaippar thronged the Collectorate here on Monday and sought action by the district administration.
In a petition submitted to Collector M. Ravikumar, the villagers said that following recent rain,brackish water from salt pans was being let into the river and it would turn the groundwater brackish. People, who largely relied on river water for drinking purpose, would not be able to drink the water.
Moreover, salt pans were drawing river water,, they said and demanded stern action against salt pan owners.
The villagers said they had submitted a petition to the Collector on December 1 last year seeking action in this regard. A joint committee comprising officials, local villagers and salt pan owners was constituted on December 3 and some strategies were formed to end the problem. Soon after the meeting, the salt pan owners sought three months’ time to establish facilities to carry the brackish water to the sea. If they were not given time, they should be allotted a vast area of land to let in effluent water, the salt pan owners demanded. The salt pan owners also volunteered to remove encroachments from the riverbed, the villagers said.
But, no step had been taken in this regard, they added.
Vilathikulam Tahsildar V. Selvakumar said necessary action would be taken after inspecting the location.
