Report on Thamirabarani river, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, 20/10/2020
Joint Committee report submitted to the National Green Tribunal in response to the NGT order of July 15, 2020 in Original Application No. 191 of 2015 filed by S. P. Muthuraman. The matter related to illegal sand mining on the banks of Thamirabarani river and discharge of illegal trade effluents into the river by the nearby industries and workshops. The pollution was also caused on account of discharge of untreated sewage into the river.
The Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Tirunelveli has said that stringent action was being taken by the revenue, police and mines department to check illegal sand mining in river Thamirabarani. Flying squad of Department of Geology and Mining conducts raids to curb illegal sand mining as well as stock and movement of sand.
The Commissioner, Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation has proposed to construct dhobi khana in three locations to prevent washing of clothes by washermen at Karupandhurai and Vannarapettai. Oil water separator is proposed which would be completed by September 30, 2021. The Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation has informed that to prevent mixing of final effluent from the outlet of the septic tank in river Thamirabarani, Underground Sewerage Scheme (UGSS) schemes are being executed in Phase-II and Phase-III. DEWATS technology is being implemented at 8 locations as temporary measures to treat the domestic sewage discharged into the river.
The TNPCB asked the Commissioner, Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation to complete the underground sewerage system for the unsewered city area and to ensure that the untreated city sewage presently let into river Thamirabarani, Kodagan channel, Tirunelveli channel and Palaymkal channel is stopped and ensure 100% treatment of sewage.
These were some of the measures mentioned in the report of the Joint Committee to control Thamirabarani river pollution.