The recent statement of K.C.Karupannan, TN Minister for Environment attributing pollution in Noyyal River to the bathers using soap has attracted criticism from all sections.
The Minister who took part in the recent meeting of the Tannery owners association meeting in Tiruppur has made this shocking statement, which has been trolled in the social media by netizens.
When the whole world knows that it is the untreated effluents of tanneries and other industrial effluents which are causing pollution in the once glorious river system, the minister’s statement has come as a shocker.
“Using soap by bathers in the Noyyal has caused the foamy substance floating on the river, it is not due to pollutants from the tanneries”, the minister observed to the shock of many.
SimpliCity spoke to Social Activist Manikandan who refuted the “made up” reasons for the prevailing pollution said, that "There is acidic effect due to the emptying of effluents from tanneries into the rivers system. The bleaching effluents are high level pollutants and it is wrong to say that it has no acidic effect on the river, as maintained by officials. These polluting agents cause the foamy substance floating on the river".
“I have submitted a petition to Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board to take action on the tanneries function on the shores of Noyyal. Even though there are 5 tanneries functioning within city limits near the Putwiki Bridge, the TNPCB officials denied that no such polluting units function within the city, which is blatant lie”, Manikandan said.