The Hindu          16.09.2014 

Protests against water plant near Athoor dam intensifies

Councillor wonders how permission was granted to sink borewell near dam

Protests over a private purified water plant functioning near Athoor Kamarajar dam, the drinking water source for Dindigul, Chinnalapatti and 17 villages, have been growing by the day.

Dindigul Corporation councillor R. Vijaya Kumar submitted a petition to Collector N. Venkatachalam on Monday, demanding closure of the plant. In his petition, the councillor stated that at a time when drinking water was being supplied once in 15 days to Dindigul Corporation areas, the plant had sunk a borewell near the outlet point of the dam. Drawing large quantities of water would ultimately deplete the storage in the dam, he said, and wondered how the authorities granted permission to sink the borewell near the dam.

Mr. Vijaya Kumar appealed to the Collector to take steps to close the unit so that drinking water supply from the dam would not be affected.

Dindigul MLA K. Balabharathi of the Communist Party of India (Marxists), who expressed grave concern over dwindling water level in the dam, also demanded closure of the water plant. Since the dam had only seven feet of water against the total storage level of 23 feet, the Corporation could supply drinking water only once in a fortnight.

The plant had been drawing a huge quantum of water, she said, and demanded its closure. She called for an inquiry and action against authorities who granted licence to the plant.

Ms. Balabharathi had already announced that a signature campaign would be launched and protests staged if the licence was not revoked and the plant not shut down.

Meanwhile, the Corporation officials sent a letter to the Public Works Department to initiate action against the plant.