Water Bodies Choked: Tamil Nadu Faces Environmental Crisis

Activists in Tamil Nadu are urgently appealing to the government to protect two critical water bodies, Athikulam and Periyakulam, from extensive illegal encroachments and severe environmental degradation. The Tamil Nadu All Water Bodies Protection Movement has highlighted that sewage is being directly discharged into these tanks, leading to significant pollution of the environment and groundwater resources. This situation poses a serious risk to the region's water security and flood control capabilities.

The movement's coordinator, J. Kanagaraj, has accused officials of submitting fraudulent reports, claiming encroachments have been removed when they persist. He pointed to contradictory statements from officials over the years regarding the identification and removal of illegal structures. Beyond encroachments, the water bodies are suffering from ongoing sewage contamination, undefined boundaries, and damaged bunds. The surrounding areas have also been deforested and are used as illegal dumping grounds.

To address this crisis, the movement demands immediate restoration efforts. These include clearing all encroachments, permanently marking the original boundaries, and implementing permanent measures to stop raw sewage inflow. Extensive desilting, deepening, and community-led renovation (kudimaramathu) works are also crucial. Furthermore, they propose securing the bunds by planting trees, creating walking paths, and establishing surveillance to prevent further damage and illegal dumping.