Call to retrieve lands encroached by polluters

ERODE: Over 50 outfits, including many farmers and social service organisations, under the banner of Federation for Environment Protection, staged a black flag demo at Veerappanchathram in Erode on Wednesday demanding criminal action on the tannery and dyeing units causing pollution through their discharge.The federation functionaries alleged that the tannery and dyeing units in the district caused much damage to water courses by letting untreated effluents though the High Court and Supreme Court have given strict orders against such actions.When action was taken on these errant units, the owners saw to it that the officials were transferred to some other district. To protect themselves from legal action, they even instigated their workers to stage road blockade.Many units encroached upon public lands. Such land should be retrieved from them. The functionaries also said that as per the order of Cauvery tribunal, the water supply from the Bhavanisagar dam for Lower Bhavani Project was reduced.But, the units were allowed to draw water without any limit from the Cauvery and let their effluents into it. Hence, they must be barred to fetch water from the Cauvery and Bhavani and Kalingarayan Canal. They should also be barred from washing printed cloth in the river.To make them follow the HC order and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) method, criminal action should be initiated against the erring units and their assets be attached. The revenue got out of it could be given to the affected ryots, the federation said. Above all, all units, functioning near water courses, should be closed.