COIMBATORE: The water in the borewells near the EB Colony Park at Shanmugha Nagar in Chokkampudur Road has turned unfit for use, and residents here point fingers to a dye unit in the vicinity that releases untreated effluents into the open drain.
Residents here have tested the water in the borewell a couple of months back. It was learned that the water is polluted by various solids and salts. Its hardness exceeded far beyond the permissible limit.
Express is in possession of the copy of the test result. It shows that the maximum permissible limit of total dissolved solids in water is 500 grams per litre, but the tested samples have over 1,050 grams of total dissolved solids per litre of water. The maximum permissible hardness of water is 300 milligrams/litre and the tested samples of water has 610 milligrams/litre of hardness. The permissible limit of chloride in water is 250 milligram/litre and it was over 300 in the tested samples. The value of sulfate, temporary hardness, permanent hardness, total alkalinity etc., were also beyond the permissible limit. The test result also says the water is not at all recommended for domestic or drinking purpose.
With the test results, residents here have approached the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the Commissioner of the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, but nothing has been done so far.
Express, on its visit to the spot, found the surroundings of the drain, for almost a kilometre till it joins the main sewage line, has turned greyish with the presence of effluents flowing out of the dyeing unit.
Residents of the area told Express that the unit releases untreated effluents at night, and during the period one cannot go near the drain due to a kind of burning smell emanating from it.
“When the effluent is released, the entire drain flows like a stream and the houses close to the drain find it difficult to live here. The unit started functioning four years back, and since then, we had been complaining about this mess. The owner of the unit is highly influential, which is the main reason why officials have not been taking any action despite a number of requests,” said a resident.
People living close to the drain complained that they have been getting some sorts of skin disorders due to this pollution. “Our children have got some sort of skin allergies due to the constant exposure to the drain, but due to fear we have not given any complaint so far. If any block occurs in the drain, we cannot even clean it up. Once I cleaned the drain only to get my palm and hand till the elbow burnt,” added another resident.
However, the company officials denied the allegation and said, “We don't use any chemical in our factory, so the water goes out of our unit will not create any health threat.”
When Express contacted K Ravichandran, District Engineer of TNPCB, he claimed ignorance on the issue, and told Express, “Let me study the issue to do the needful. People who face similar problems can file complaints to me for necessary action. After inspecting the spot and investigations, due action would be taken.”