RIVER CONSERVATION PLAN FOR RIVER CAUVERY FROM METTUR DAM TO ERODE

Abstract

The Cauvery River is important river in Southern India. It rises in Brahmagiri Range of the Western Ghats in Coorg District of Karnataka. After flowing 802km (381, 357 and 64 km in Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala, respectively), it joins the Bay of Bengal at Kaveripatnam in Tamil Nadu. Some of the important towns along the course of this River are Mysore, Erode, Vellore, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavure. Various human activities along the course of river viz agriculture, industrialization and other commercial activities have impacts on the quality of Cauvery River. With growth of various human and economic activities, the water in river Cauvery deterioted in the quality. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified a stretch of River Cauvery from Mettur Dam to Erode having BOD more than 6 mg/1, as one of the Polluted stretch in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TN.SPCB) formulated necessary action plan to restore the water quality of the River Cauvery. A sum of Rs.16.58 crores has been spent by different executing agencies of the state, viz., TWAD Board and the concerned Local Bodies. Works on Low Cost Sanitation facility, River Front Development, bathing ghats and wood based crematoria has been also completed. Waste Stabilization pond / Up flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket process "UASB" have been used for sewage treatment Due to problem of ground water pollution, the Erode sewage treatment plant waste stabilization pond was kept idle for past one and half years. For Bhavani Town also waste stabilization treatment plant was in complete due to public agitation related to apprehension for ground water contamination. For Pallipalayam town segregation of dyeing effluents from domestic sewage has been proposed in latest project reports. In Komorapalayam town the treatment plant was functioning under trial run by Tamil Nadu Water Supply &Drainage Board (TWAD Board).