23 Jan : The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is monitoring the Cauvery River water quality at 16 locations under the Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources programme and 4 locations under the Global Environmental Monitoring System. Discharges from Industries are monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board as well as State Pollution Control Boards in accordance with the environmental laws.
As per the information furnished by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, no industry is discharging effluents into river Cauvery in Karnataka. In addition, TNPCB has sanctioned a project to study the Cauvery River water quality through colleges of reputed universities.
As per TNPCB, water intensive activities such as textile dyeing and tannery are located predominantly along the Cauvery river and its tributaries.As per the High Court of Madras order, all the tannery and textile dyeing units have to implement zero liquid discharge system comprising reverse osmosis plant with reject management for recovery and reuse of water and salt in their industrial processes. The TNPCB has been monitoring the functional aspects of the said industries and necessary action is taken against erring industries in accordance with the law. Further, pollution abatement works in river Cauvery due to domestic sewage are implemented under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan. The Plan covers pollution abatement works in five towns of Karnataka and nine towns of Tamil Nadu.