Dyeing Waste Continues to Pollute Water Sources in Nagari
The pollution has also affected agriculture in parts of the constituency
TIRUPATI: Untreated wastewater from yarn dyeing units continues to pollute water sources in and around Nagari, with residents of several villages raising concerns over groundwater contamination and its impact on agriculture.
Nagari’s handloom and powerloom sectors provide livelihoods to several families. However, wastewater generated by yarn-dyeing units has emerged as a major concern, with chemical-laden effluents being discharged into open areas and drains before reaching tanks and groundwater sources.
The problem is estimated to affect 14 villages, where access to drinking and irrigation water has become difficult. Industries in the area are said to generate around 36 lakh litres of wastewater a day. In the absence of adequate treatment facilities, the waste has been entering local water bodies.
R. Gunasekhar, a resident of Vinayagapuram, said residents had been raising the issue for several years. “Earlier, we could depend on local water sources, but now many people hesitate to use the water for drinking. The government should find a permanent solution,” he said.
The pollution has also affected agriculture in parts of the constituency. Locals said tanks in three mandals had been affected, forcing some farmers to stay away from cultivation due to concerns over water quality.
Nagari, once known for its water resources, now faces a shortage of usable water. During a drought in Chittoor town in 1972, drinking water was supplied from Nagari through tankers. Locals said the situation had changed as pollution had affected water sources.
A treatment plant built to address the problem has failed to provide a lasting solution. Before 2014, the Central government spent around ₹13.13 crore on a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) to collect and treat wastewater before discharge. However, the facility remained unopened for seven years after its construction. It was later used for about five years before becoming defunct. The plant is now lying unused and has fallen into disrepair.
Plans have been discussed to shift dyeing units away from residential areas and establish a modern treatment facility. The proposal is to allot land for the units from the 250-acre MSME land near Mangadu and PKR Puram in Nagari mandal. While officials and political leaders have said land is available and allotment would be considered, the proposal has yet to take shape.
A representative of the Powerloom Weavers Welfare Association said the industry needed a functioning treatment facility. “Dyeing provides employment to several families and shifting or closing down the units is not a solution. We need a properly functioning CETP to treat the wastewater. With the required infrastructure, the units can operate without causing pollution,” he said.