Orathapalayam Dam

In the Noyyal basin, the Orathapalayam Dam, which was constructed in 1992 for irrigation supply, has essentially become a holding tank for extremely polluted water. In addition to large amounts of organics and salts, pollutants include high concentrations of heavy metals and other industrial chemicals. Similar pollution problems are widespread and have been the subject of action by the courts for decades. A Government Order

(G.O No 213, I, dated March 30,1989) prohibits establishment of any polluting industry at a distance of less than one kilometer from the rivers. This has not been enforced and now even groundwater along the river course and downstream is polluted. Before construction of the dam, farmers grew irrigated crops of tobacco, coconut, turmeric, maize, cotton and vegetables. At present, primarily rainfed cultivation is carried out in these villages and the wet crop cultivation has become the luxury of a select few whose wells are yet to become polluted.