Home / Environment / Polluted Groundwater Plagues 35 Tamil Nadu Villages, Residents Demand Action
Polluted Groundwater Plagues 35 Tamil Nadu Villages, Residents Demand Action
17 Nov
Summary
- Groundwater in 35 villages declared unfit for consumption due to industrial effluents
- MLA calls for protected drinking water supply, cost to be recovered from polluting industries
- Waterbodies around SIPCOT industrial area contaminated by direct discharge of effluents
As of November 17th, 2025, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board has declared the groundwater in 35 villages in the Perundurai Assembly constituency unfit for consumption. This is due to the discharge of effluents from industries located in the nearby SIPCOT industrial area.
In a petition submitted to the District Collector, Perundurai MLA S. Jayakumar stated that water samples collected from hand pumps, open wells, and overhead tanks in these villages had failed to meet drinking water quality standards during laboratory tests. Based on these findings, the Block Development Officer has installed warning boards at the affected water sources, advising residents against using the water.
MLA Jayakumar noted that he had previously raised this issue in the state Assembly. He pointed out that waterbodies around the SIPCOT area in several panchayats, including Ponmudi, Kambiliyampatti, Paniyampalli, Punjai, and Palatholuvu, have been contaminated by the direct discharge of effluents from the industries.
Citing a similar situation in Cuddalore district, where the National Green Tribunal had directed SIPCOT industries to supply protected drinking water to affected residents at their own cost, Jayakumar urged the authorities to implement the same system in Perundurai. He demanded that the SIPCOT industries bear the cost of providing Cauvery water as a safe drinking water source for the impacted villages.
