The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Polluted Tamirabharani a cause for concern

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Saturday, Mar 22, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Polluted Tamirabharani a cause for concern

— Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Sorry state: Children surrounded by contaminated water trying to get a pot of potable water in Tirunelveli.

The General Assembly of the United Nations through its Resolution has declared 2008 as an International Year of Sanitation (IYS). The resolution expressed concern on the slow and insufficient progress made in achieving the global sanitation target, and recognised that progress can be made through active commitment and action by all.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) will work as mandated by the General Assembly, as coordinator of IYS, in broad partnership with stakeholders including UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector and academic in raising awareness and accelerating progress on sanitation.

The UN lists issues such as hygiene promotion, sanitary facilities, water quality case studies, wastewater treatment, sewerage systems, policy and institutional framework and national information on sanitation to be addressed by various UN agencies.

However, the lack of involvement and cooperation of the local bodies in conserving water bodies, particularly protecting perennial rivers and irrigation tanks from being polluted by human waste and sewerage, have effectively defeated the purpose of this mission.

The Tirunelveli Corporation stands as a classic example for this statement as the lifeline of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, Tamirabharani, has become a dumping ground for every kind of waste.

Though hundreds of infiltration wells have been dug on the course of this river right from Papanasam to Eral to supply drinking water to millions of population, no concrete measure is in place to protect this river from being rampantly polluted by contamination of all kinds.

While couple of heavy industries in Tirunelveli district let out their waste into the river without chemically treating it, the human waste from the residences is also allowed to mix up in several places as the river silently continues its journey from the Western Ghats to the Gulf of Mannar.

Even after the local bodies were advised to have effective underground sewerage system and encourage the public to construct household toilets with the subsidised loans given by the government, pollution of rivers like Tamirabharani is still continuing.

P. Sudhakar

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