TIRUPPUR: Farmers from Noyyal Farmers' Protection Association have demanded that the Tiruppur City Municipal Corporation stop dumping garbage on the banks of Noyyal River. They also claim that setting fire to garbage on the riverbanks causes environmental damage.
KS Thirugnanasampandan, the chief coordinator of Noyyal Farmers' Protection Association, said, "Noyyal River originates in Coimbatore, flows through Tiruppur and Erode, and joins the Cauvery at Karur. Originating in the Western Ghats, the river travels a distance of 158 km. There are a large number of farmers who depend on the Noyyal. This river is already polluted. We are fighting to protect Noyyal River from pollution. In this situation, garbage is currently being dumped on the banks of the Noyyal by the corporation in Tiruppur."
"Regular garbage, medical waste and plastic waste collected from the wards are being dumped on the banks of the river. Moreover, the garbage is being set on fire on the riverbanks, leading to environmental damage," he added.
Further, he said, "On Tuesday, in Anaipalayam area, the corporation’s sanitary workers dumped garbage on the riverbank and then set it on fire. When I asked them, they replied they had been instructed by their superiors to do so. They have no awareness that the river will be polluted. They also lack awareness about environmental damage. The local body must immediately stop the dumping of garbage on the riverbank. The garbage that has already been dumped there must be removed."
Corporation Commissioner MP Amith said, "Officials have been instructed to remove the garbage dumped on the banks of Noyyal River. Appropriate action will be taken within two days. To improve solid waste management, we had planned to open a solid waste management park in Tiruppur on January 24, on behalf of the corporation. It may be delayed for a few days due to administrative reasons.”
The solid waste management park to be opened by the corporation has a capacity of 200 tonnes.