The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Preserve environment, washermen told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 01, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Preserve environment, washermen told

By Our Staff Reporter

A washerman at his workplace on the Coleroon riverbed. — Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam.

TIRUCHI, JULY 31. The Post-Graduate Department of Environmental Sciences, Bishop Heber College, has undertaken steps to sensitise washermen near the Coleroon, a tributary of the Cauvery and a `non-point source of pollution', to environmental responsibilities.

The findings of the study are likely to be useful to the Corporation to carry out remedial measures. Unlike in the case of industrial discharge into rivers, wherein the extent of pollution could be quantified, no full-fledged assessment of damage caused to groundwater by washing clothes has been made so far.

About 40 unauthorised concrete clusters have been constructed on the riverbed by the washermen for their livelihood. They draw water by using three diesel pumps and seven hand pumps.

Last week, a team comprising 29 students and three teachers educated washermen about the financial assistance they were collectively entitled to get under the National River Action Programme, implemented by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, to establish common facilities. The objective of the initiative was to put in place a remedial mechanism and prevent further pollution of groundwater, said S. Kalavathi, Coordinator. Only excess water from the Cauvery is released into the Coleroon and the absence of water flow owing to scarcity has arrested the scope for self-purification over the past few years.

The team found large-scale phosphate deposits on the riverbed going by the excess presence of water hyacinth at water-stagnated places. The next part of the study would observe the trend of seepage of underground water, level of groundwater pollution at different depths and damage caused to the soil by polythene bags containing washing agents.

The team was successful in impressing upon the washermen community about the need to sustain its livelihood even while contributing to the environmental upkeep by establishing a wastewater treatment plant.

They were asked to find out an alternative site closer to the city for their activities. Many accepted the idea since they spent huge a sum for transporting clothes to the riverbed.

The findings and suggestions will be validated and sent to the Directorate of Environment, functioning under the State Government, for consideration, said Alagappa Moses, faculty member.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

11 special task forces formed

Preserve environment, washermen told

Rs.85.5 lakhs sanctioned to construct classrooms

Training programme

Course in jewellery designing

Around the City

In Tiruchi Today