River pollution puts Kurnool residents on edge

The increasing pollution of the river near the confluence of the Tungabhadra and Handri near Kurnool city has become a cause of concern among the residents.

The residents complained that the river water had become highly turbid of late and foul smell emanating from the river bed was putting the locality nearby in big inconvenience. Various groups have made several representations on the issue to the district authorities and demanded action.

Former Praja Rajyam leader D. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, who toured the affected areas in old city, met Collector C. Sudharsan Reddy on Monday and urged him to order an inquiry into the causes of pollution, saying that many people were suffering from pollution-related health issues like asthma and skin ailments.

The CPI (M) leaders, who have visited the area, alleged that the industries located on the river bank owned by the TGV Group were responsible for releasing the effluents into the river. However, the group retorted through advertisements in newspapers that the effluents from their plants were not responsible for the pollution as they were quite abided by the prescribed norms while treating the effluents. The group argued that the sewage and waste flowing from the city with a population of six lakh could be the possible reason for the rise in pollution. “The industries were located in river downstream areas, where as the pollution was found in both the rivers nearly one to two km upstream, an official of the company said.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the municipal corporation from several quarters for cleaning the river. The officials said that they had initiated temporary measures to control the menace, adding that long-term measures would also be undertaken soon.

source: The Hindu