Off the Marudhamalai Main Road, deep inside the Somayampalayam Panchayat, runs a canal that is now lined with waste from foundries in the area. The canal carries water from the nearby hills to the Karupparayan Kovil Canal and through it flows into the Muthannan Kulam (tank).
But the water flows only during the monsoon. The canal is now dry.
The dumping of waste has been going on for around a year, alleges farmer R. Elangovan.
His and many farmers’ lands are dependent on the canal for water. In the past 12 months or so, vehicles from foundries in the area carry the waste and dump it both, during day and night. In a week, 10 to 15 lorry loads of waste gets dumped, he intones.
If the dumping continues, the foundry waste will block water flow, the farmers fear. They say they have taken up the issue with the panchayat but it has been of no use.
Panchayat president P. Ramakrishnan says the foundry waste gets dumped there because the residents of the area wanted it.
As the canal bank was narrow and there was the possibility of vehicles, especially school vans, falling into the canal, the residents asked for the canal to be widened. Therefore, the foundry waste that comprises sand and small stones was used to widen the canal.
Asked if the foundries had taken the panchayat’s permission, Mr. Ramakrishnan says that no such permission was issued. In fact, the panchayat has asked the people to nab the vehicles dumping the waste because it is illegal. Contradicting himself further, he says that he is not aware who dumps the waste but adds that the dumping has stopped.
The farmers say that the Public Works Department and the district administration should stop the dumping, seize the vehicles used for the purpose and also take steps to clean the canal.
But the water flows only during the monsoon. The canal is now dry.
The dumping of waste has been going on for around a year, alleges farmer R. Elangovan.
His and many farmers’ lands are dependent on the canal for water. In the past 12 months or so, vehicles from foundries in the area carry the waste and dump it both, during day and night. In a week, 10 to 15 lorry loads of waste gets dumped, he intones.
If the dumping continues, the foundry waste will block water flow, the farmers fear. They say they have taken up the issue with the panchayat but it has been of no use.
Panchayat president P. Ramakrishnan says the foundry waste gets dumped there because the residents of the area wanted it.
As the canal bank was narrow and there was the possibility of vehicles, especially school vans, falling into the canal, the residents asked for the canal to be widened. Therefore, the foundry waste that comprises sand and small stones was used to widen the canal.
Asked if the foundries had taken the panchayat’s permission, Mr. Ramakrishnan says that no such permission was issued. In fact, the panchayat has asked the people to nab the vehicles dumping the waste because it is illegal. Contradicting himself further, he says that he is not aware who dumps the waste but adds that the dumping has stopped.
The farmers say that the Public Works Department and the district administration should stop the dumping, seize the vehicles used for the purpose and also take steps to clean the canal.