TIRUNELVELI: The release of untreated sewage into the Thamirabarani River in the Tirunelveli corporation limit continues to pose a threat to the waterbody due to the non-functional Decentralised Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) structures located at around 10 places along the river bank. The DEWATS was constructed as a temporary solution until the Underground Sewerage Scheme (UGSS) is implemented to treat the corporation's sewage before it is released into the river.
Speaking to TNIE, S P Muthuraman, an environmentalist -- on whose petition the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a slew of directions to the Tirunelveli corporation last year -- said that unless the state government forms the Thamirabarani River Rejuvenation Commission, it cannot make this river pollution free.
TNIE visited the DEWATS responsible for treating the sewage flowing in from Sindhupoondhurai, Kailasapuram, Meenakshipuram, and CN Village areas, and found that none of them are functional at present. Due to this, untreated sewage from the corporation is released into the river.
"In 2022 order, the NGT, which had been hearing my case since 2015, observed that the water in Thamirabarani River has a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 20-30 mg/l and contains very high fecal coliform. However, the city corporation did not take any concrete steps to improve the water quality of Thamirabarani, which is the only perennial river of Tamil Nadu and drinking water source for Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, and Ramanathapuram districts. In its affidavit, the corporation had assured the completion of the UGSS-Phase-II by July 2022 and UGSS-Phase-III by December 2022. However, both of these schemes have not been completed yet. Through UGSS, the corporation will be able to bring its sewage to the sewage treatment plant located away from the river, following which the treated sewage will be let into the river via a canal," said Muthuraman.
He also demanded that the state government construct a wall along the Thamirabarani river banks just like the walls along the Vaigai river banks in Madurai, to prevent people from dumping solid waste into the river and defecating on the river bed.
When contacted by TNIE, Corporation Commissioner V Sivakrishnamurthy said the sewage inflow from the corporation limit has currently increased beyond the capacity of DEWATS. "We have trained our staff to keep the DEWATS functional. We are working hard to maintain the Thamirabarani River clean. An effluent treatment plant will soon come up in Karuppanthurai. We have modified the construction plan, taking into consideration that the UGSS channels should not cross the river," he said, adding that this is the reason why the completion of the two schemes is getting delayed.