Brewery poses threat to agriculture operations near Kumbakonam, says farmers association

Contaminated Pazhavaru at Eragharam near Kumbakonam.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

A farmers’ organisation has alleged that the recent conversion of a sugar mill in Papanasam Taluk into a full-fledged brewery has polluted the Pazhavaru river passing through Eragharam near Kumbakonam,

According to Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association secretary Sundara Vimalanathan, the river serves as a drain for hundreds of acres of agriculture fields located between Kabisthalam and Kumbakonam. A sheet of water always remains in the channel as lift irrigation has been adopted at most of the fields located between Kabisthalam and Kumbakonam, and the drain-off water from the fields serve as a drinking water source for cattle.

But now with commencement of the production of alcohol-based products at the sugar mill, the water flow in Pazhavaru has been contaminated. While the local people, who take bath or wash their hands and feet in Pazhavaru, suffer from itching on their skin, cattle stay away due to the smell of chemicals, he alleged.

Moreover, if the discharge of untreated water from the brewery continues, the ground water source for both agriculture operations and human consumption in this region may be affected soon, he said.

When contacted, the district authorities said they had received the association’s complaint through email on Sunday night and had forwarded it to the department concerned for redressal on Monday.