Farmers have expressed their dismay during the district-level monthly grievances redressal session on Friday over the proposal of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) to establish tertiary treatment plants for letting sewage of underground drainage project into the Chinnavedampatti freshwater lake.
Condemning the move, ‘Vellakinar’ Kalisamy, president of Chinnavedampatti Eri Padukappu Vivasayigal Sangam, sought to remind the district administration that the very purpose behind the formation of the 200-acre lake by acquiring land from farmers under the Land Acquisition Act during the 80s was to store freshwater accruing from rainfall from the western ghats through construction of a check dam at Kanuvai and formation of a 60-feet wide supply channel to a length of eight kilometres.
Also, four cases seeking higher compensation was still pending in the High Court. “We will approach the court to stall the project,” Mr. Kalisamy said, emphasising that the Corporation cannot enjoy leverage over the water body under the jurisdiction of the Water Resources Department.
Another farmer Suresh contested the purported contention of the local body that the treated water will be potable. “The unsuitability of water treated at tertiary plants for drinking purposes has already been ascertained scientifically,” Mr. Suresh said.
The farmers went on to engage District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, who chaired the meeting in a discussion on the standpoint of the Corporation on potability of the water treated in the tertiary treatment plants.
To assuage their apprehensions, the Collector offered to take a delegation on a visit to the tertiary treatment ultrafiltration plant (TTUF) established by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).
Water budget was a necessity factoring in the water inflow into the city, extent of sewage generation and how much of it could be recycled and reused, as was the practice worldwide, the Collector explained.
Stating that the Detailed Project Report was yet to be readied by the Corporation, the Collector promised the farmers that their apprehensions will be addressed before proceeding further.
“Let us see the model (at Chennai) first, and understand the parameters. We will not force the proposal on you,” the Collector added.
Published – February 01, 2025 08:19 pm IST