Namakkal dyeing units turn sacred Cauvery into a ‘toxic drain’

NAMAKKAL: Cauvery water has turned red, blue and green as dyeing units in the textile hubs of Kumarapalayam and Pallipalayam in Namakkal district release lakhs of litres of untreated effluents into the river, openly defying directives of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

Farmers and fisherfolk say toxic discharges over decades have damaged livelihoods and continued despite political changes. “No matter which party comes to power, Pallipalayam people face the same fate,” says S Murugan, a farmer.

Doctors and health experts warn of serious health consequences from untreated dye effluents, which often contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and chromium, along with carcinogenic compounds that seeped into soil and groundwater. They say prolonged exposure can lead to kidney disease, cancer and neurological disorders. “We are already seeing rising cases of skin rashes, respiratory irritation and gastrointestinal problems among people living near the river,” says Dr P Rajesh, a physician in Erode.

Residents say agriculture has suffered as irrigation with contaminated water reduced soil fertility and crops absorbed harmful residues that entered the food chain. “Our yields are shrinking, and our land is turning barren,” says K Selvaraj, a farmer in Kumarapalayam.

Fisherfolk have reported dwindling catches as aquatic life struggles to survive in oxygen-depleted waters laden with toxins. “The river once gave us life, now it gives us nothing,” says M Dinesh, a fisherman.

Residents see a recurring pattern -- warnings are issued to the units by officials, but enforcement remains weak. Inspections are just a “farce,” according to them. “We see officials come, we hear their warnings, but by the next morning, the river is coloured again. It is a cycle of betrayal,” says shopkeeper S Balaji of Pallipalayam.

More than 25 officials inspected the river on Saturday and Sunday. Hours after the inspection, the units discharged effluents, residents say. “We woke up on Monday to see the Cauvery shimmering in colours no river should ever wear,” says R Kumar of Pallipalayam.

Urban residents in towns such as Salem, Erode and Namakkal, who depend on the Cauvery water for drinking, feel they too are vulnerable. “We used to trust the Cauvery as our lifeline. Now every glass of water is a gamble,” says V Priya, a schoolteacher.

Environmental activists say the Pollution Control Board’s inability to enforce its own orders emboldened violators. “The Cauvery is not just a river, it is a heritage. To see it turned into a toxic drain is heartbreaking,” says activist R Anitha of Erode. She has demanded the immediate closure of the units which are repeat offenders.

People living on the banks of the Cauvery say the river’s cultural and spiritual significance has deepened the crisis, as its water is considered sacred in rituals and festivals. “We used to bathe in the Cauvery, but now we fear touching it,” says K Gopal, an elderly resident of Pallipalayam.