6 months ago
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Rampant discharge of sewage and untreated h2o into Pazhayar stream astatine respective places successful Nagercoil, including Ozhuginesary, has raised superior concerns among residents astir the river’s aboriginal and measures being taken to curb the pollution.
According to a 2024 report, ‘Exploring the situational dynamics of the Pazhayar river,’ the stream is simply a portion of Kodhayar stream basin, which covers an country of 1,646.964 sq km. The basin lies wholly wrong Tamil Nadu and astir wrong Kanniyakumari but for a tiny information successful Radhapuram taluk of Tirunelveli district.
As per the report, home pollution, agriculture contamination and discarded h2o from rubber processising units are large sources of pollution. “The alarming level of pollutants and sewage discarded that are discharged into the stream by Nagercoil Corporation impacted the h2o quality,” the study says.
The disposable confluence of sewage discharge into the Pazhayar stream connected Arattu roadworthy successful Ozhuginesary has go a large interest among residents. The stream agelong present is choked with h2o hyacinths and different invasive aquatic weeds, owed to eutrophication, a information that persists crossed respective parts of the stream wrong metropolis limits, including areas adjacent Suchindram and Swamithoppu.
Murugesan, a nonmigratory of Vadasery said, “The bathing ghats on the Aratu road, erstwhile regularly utilized by residents, are present abandoned. Some ghats are adjacent covered by bushes and weeds.”
He added that the continuous discharge of sewage into the stream adjacent Ozhuginesary span had been happening for years and awaited a imperishable solution.
N. Udhayarajan, director, Uvakai foundation, highlighted the deficiency of a due sewage attraction works (STP) for Nagercoil Corporation arsenic the large crushed for increasing contamination successful the Pazhayar river. The underground drainage strategy (UGDS) was yet to beryllium completed successful galore parts of the Corporation limits, and adjacent if it was wholly implemented, managing the UGDS successful Nagercoil would beryllium analyzable owed to its terrain.
“In lawsuit of Pazhayar river, erstwhile the stream enters the city, determination is hardly immoderate gradient, which reduces the anticipation of flushing retired pollutants,” helium added.
He further noted that portion the stream was perennial, and flood helped flush the pollutants to immoderate extent, some the nationalist and the authorities indispensable instrumentality proactive measures to support it for aboriginal generations. With increasing colonisation and accelerated urbanisation, the lack of due drainage and sewage systems had resulted successful indiscriminate discharge of untreated h2o into the river. Additionally, contamination coupled with the unchecked maturation of invasive weeds had led to eutrophication, causing terrible ecological impact.
Chenabagasekara Pillai, member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, echoed akin concerns that accelerated urbanisation without capable infrastructure had pushed the Pazhayar stream into a captious state. “As everyone says, civilization began connected the banks of the river, the cultivation practice of Nanjil Nadu portion began with the Pazhayar river. But today, sewage enters the stream astatine galore points, and factual enactment from authorities authorities is inactive awaited.”
The territory erstwhile had astir 4,000 irrigation tanks and present had lone astir 2,000, reflecting the nonaccomplishment of some authorities authorities and residents to support the h2o resources, helium added..
Responding to the concern, an authoritative from the Water Resources Department said the Nagercoil Corporation was cutting disconnected sewage inlets starring into the river. Once the process was completed, further enactment would beryllium taken to forestall further pollution.
Nagercoil Corporation Mayor R. Mahesh besides said the Corporation had begun sealing sewage outlets into the Pazhayar and would soon screen each remaining areas wrong its limits.
