Industrial effluents pollute Korattur groundwater

After the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone, restrained industries in Ambattur from releasing untreated effluents into Korattur lake, the repercussions have been felt by the residents of TNHB Colony. They say that the industries are now letting the effluents into the surplus storm water canal. Syed Hassan, Secretary of Korattur Welfare Association, said that the effluents have blocked the natural passage of water from Korattur lake. 

“This has polluted drinking water sources in the area. While the NGT passed an order asking industries not to dump effluents into the lake, they have not spelt out the repercussions for the violators. Now, the Korattur lake is safe. But those living in the TNHB colony must suffer the consequence of the untreated water, which is being diverted into the canal,” said the IT professional. 

He added that during the minimal rains caused by Cyclone Vardah, surplus storm water canal was overflowing into their colony due to the rampant discharge of effluents. Kamesh C, a 29-year-old chartered accountancy student, said that the untreated industrial effluents have polluted the groundwater.

“The canal is supposed to be a storm water channel, for surplus water to go across the 100 Feet Road and eventually drain into Otteri Nullah via Villivakkam. But now, the construction work has stopped due to the effluents causing water stagnation. This has also led to effluents seeping into the groundwater and polluting our drinking and metro water sources. The water from the tap is dark in appearance and has a foul smell. When we complain, the problem is resolved for a few months but then, it returns to the shoddy state. The stagnation has also caused mosquito breeding problems,” he said. 

An official from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the civic body in charge of the construction, said, “The storm water canal is only meant for siphoning out excess water from the Korattur lake. The GCC is only in charge of construction of the canal but the monitoring is done by other bodies.”