Thanjavur: Expressing concern over contamination of water in Noyyal and Amaravathi, tributaries of Cauvery, due to which the river carried more chemical loads to Bay of Bengal, as revealed by a University study and reported in Deccan Chronicle, Mr. P.R. Pandian, coordinator of the ‘Thamizha Vivasayigal Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu’ has said that both state and central governments should take steps on a war footing to remove pollution in the Cauvery. In a press release issued here on Monday, Pandian said that Cauvery catered to the drinking water needs of five crore people in 25 districts like Chennai, Vellore, Salem, Tiruchy, Thanjavur etc. It also fulfilled the irrigation needs of nearly 25 lakh acres.
“It is shocking to note that the river carried chemical loads to Bay of Bengal more than other rivers like Krishna, Godavari and even Ganga. Besides river water remaining contaminated, the chemicals affect underground water also. If unchecked, this may lead to health and environment hazards in Tamil Nadu. The State government should take steps along with the Central government to check pollution in Cauvery and save the river,” said Pandian. He also condemned the central government’s plan to levy road tax to tractors and income tax on agriculture. This is contrary to what the central government has been proclaiming. “It (Central government) said that it would take steps to double the income of farmers by 2022. But now it is taxing farmers,” he regretted.
Mr. Pandian further said that though farmers received the news that the State government had announced conversion of medium-term loans into long-term loans for the benefit of farmers, it was yet to be implemented by
co-operative banks. “While some banks said that they have not received orders yet, some insisted on farmers getting ‘annavari’ certificates. The VAOs are reluctant to give ‘annavari’ certificates to farmers. State government should look into the matter and implement the conversion of medium-term loans into long-term loans to help farmers,” P.R. Pandian added.
