Industrial effluents and its impact in Noyyal River Basin

Untreated effluents discharged into the Noyyal by dyeing and bleaching units located in tirupur district had made considerable impacts on water resources both ground water and surface water over the years. There are over 870 dyeing units located in Noyyal river basin particularly in Tirupur, Palladam and Avinashi blocks that are primarily responsible pollution in the Noyyal river basin.

Industrial effluents flowing after Tirupur town are stored in Orathupalayam reservoir. Orathupalayam dam constructed in the year 1991 across the river Noyyal is in the spotlight ever since 1996. The dam was constructed for irrigation purpose and only meager quantity of water was released from this dam to irrigate approximately 20,000 acres of land in Erode and Karur district. The dam served its irrigation purpose from 1991 to 1996. The Orathupalayam reservoir is having a high-level of contamination causing unbearable problems to the villagers and the Government. Pollution problems are on the increase. Almost all water sources of the district have been polluted by various industries. The Anaipalayam-Kasipalayam sector of the river, which comes under the Tirupur Municipal limits, is no exception. The dyeing and bleaching units, which mushroomed in the town during the past two decades and the relentless pursuit of the industrialists in Tirupur for short-term monetary gains, have destroyed the river.

According to industrial experts, 8.7 Crores liters of treated effluents flow from the dyeing units in the town into the river daily. These effluents contain TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) higher than 2,100 mg/liter – the level set by the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board. It is heavily contaminated and moreover poisonous gases emanate from it, resulting in lung infections. Worst affected are the slum dwellers along the riverside, which stand the risk of contracting water-borne diseases like diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid. It is needless to mention about the quality of water. The water from the river cannot be used for daily chores.

For the past 7 years, the dam is used for storing contaminated effluents discharged by dyeing and bleaching units. It had affected irrigation in over 1000 acres in an around Tirupur and Orathupalayam.