Tamil Nadu - Erode   

`Over 60 lakh people affected by tanneries, dyeing units in Erode'

Staff Reporter

Plea to shift units to Perundurai SIPCOT

ERODE: "Over 60 lakh population in Tamil Nadu have been affected by tanneries and dyeing units here," said Kalingarayan Farmers Association president V.M. Velayutham at the Agriculturists Grievances Day here on Friday.

Mr. Velayutham said people living on the banks of Kalingarayan canal had been suffering because of the effluents discharged by the tanneries and the dyeing units into the canal.

As per the Government Order, no tannery or textile industry should be allowed within five km of water sources. But flouting the order, officials in various departments had permitted nine tanneries to start their units within two km from River Cauvery.

Mr. Velayutham said: "To safeguard 700 tanners and dyers, officials are victimising 60 lakh population in the State."

The effluents let into the Cauvery would affect Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Trichirapalli, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts.

Mr. Velayutham said those consuming the Cauvery water would get various diseases. Hence he wanted the district administration to shift the tanneries and the dyeing units to Perundurai SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre.

He said both the Kalingarayan canal banks were in disrepair condition and vehicles could not be operated on the roads over the banks. He wanted the Public Works Department to strengthen the canal bunds and lay roads.

Tamilaga Vivasayeegal Sangam president E.R. Kumarasamy said 108 acres had been reserved for the tanneries and dyeing industries in Perundurai SIPCOT. But only 43 units were ready to start their industries there. He urged the Collector to order the shifting of such industries to SIPCOT.

But Avinashi Athikadavu Farmers Association secretary Samiappan opposed the shifting saying that already a proposal to discharge the effluents through pipelines to Nagapattinam seashore from Erode and Tirupur had been pending with the Government.

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

Stories in this Section

Farmers complain against coop. banks
`Over 60 lakh people affected by tanneries, dyeing units in Erode'
Soil, water samples collected from paper industries
In Erode Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu