Villagers oppose setting up of sewage treatment plant near Vaniyambadi
Residents of Valayambattu village in Tirupattur have been opposing the setting up of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) by neighbouring Vaniyambadi municipality along Palar River
Residents of Valayambattu village in Tirupattur have been opposing the setting up of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) by neighbouring Vaniyambadi municipality along Palar River due to fear of groundwater pollution. Residents said that more than 4,000 families reside in Valayambattu village that comes under Alangayam Panchayat Union in the district. Most of the families depend on agriculture and weaving. “The proposed treatment plant can be established away from farming areas and water bodies. Alternative sites for the facility should be identified,” said M.
Karthigeyan, a resident. Residents said that the village has a few water bodies. It is located on the confluence of Kallar and Palar rivers along Chennai - Bengaluru Highway (NH 48). Paddy is the chief crop cultivated in the village and adjoining hamlets. Farmers also cultivate green chilli, brinjal, groundnuts, greens and mango. Farmers said that the proposed 10-acre plot that had been identified for the new treatment plant could be used for grazing cattle by farmers. It could also store excess rainwater during monsoon, thereby preventing inundation of houses.
Residents said that setting up of the sewage treatment plant near water bodies and farmlands will affect water quality in the area. Such pollution to groundwater and surface water will impact farming in surrounding villages. As municipal officials of Vaniyambadi town, which has over one lakh residents, were unable to find land within its limits due to high cost, civic officials said that they identified land in Valayambattu village. The village is also located downstream of the river that will help discharge household wastewater to the proposed treatment plant.
The STP will be built to treat sewage generated in houses within the Vaniyambadi municipality, two km from Valayambattu village. Recycled water will be used to water plants on roads. At present, existing stormwater drains in Vaniyambadi are used to discharge sewage which flows into nearby lakes and ponds, resulting in pollution. The new plant will end illegal discharge of sewage into drains and pollution of water bodies, the officials said.
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