Namakkal: Residents of Kulathukkadu near Kumarapalayam laid siege to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) office, on Monday, seeking action against dyeing units releasing untreated effluents into drains, water bodies and the ground.Residents alleged that several units in and around Kulathukkadu were discharging untreated industrial effluents into drainage channels without mandatory treatment. They said this had caused a pervasive foul odour, disrupted daily life and raised concerns about long-term health effects.They claimed that the contaminated water was also entering the Cauvery River, a major drinking-water source for several districts in Tamil Nadu. They also accused some units of illegally injecting dye effluents into borewells, thereby contaminating groundwater and making borewell water unfit for domestic use.Residents said repeated complaints to TNPCB officials had led only to superficial inspections and no lasting corrective action, while the units under question continue operating. Protesters demanded immediate inspections, continuous monitoring and strict legal action against industries violating pollution norms.“For several years we have been breathing polluted air and living with unbearable stench. Now even the groundwater has become unusable. Our repeated complaints have yielded little result, and we are left with no option but to protest,” said R Murugesan, a Kulathukkadu resident.They warned that the agitation would be intensified in the coming days unless authorities conducted a comprehensive inquiry and took effective steps to stop untreated discharges.
