Members of the Tenkasi District We Leaders Movement submitted a petition to District Collector Ranjit Singh, urging authorities to take steps to protect the Chitra River.
The petition was submitted by Muthuselvam, Senthilkumar, Advocate Gopalakrishnan, Ayyappan, Muthuvel, Subramanian, Kannan and Karuppasamy.
The petition stated that the Chitra River, an important water source for Tenkasi town, is being polluted as sewage from the urban areas is directly discharged into the river downstream of the Yanaipalam area. It was pointed out that this could also adversely affect agricultural areas dependent on the river.
The petitioners urged the authorities to completely clean and regularly maintain the Yanaipalam bathing ghat. They also sought permanent measures to identify all points where sewage from the town enters the river and prevent the direct discharge of wastewater into it.
They further requested that fences and warning boards be installed in the Vaikalpalam area to prevent the dumping of medical and solid waste. They also urged the authorities to provide adequate dustbins in important areas, including the Tenkasi Bazaar, and ensure that waste from shops is properly collected and disposed of.
The petition also called for inspections of wastewater discharged by restaurants, lodges and hospitals located along the riverbank, and measures to prevent untreated sewage from entering the river.
Other demands included controlling the use of plastic bags, regularly monitoring the quality of river water and creating awareness among the public about protecting the river.