Villagers oppose establishment of sewage treatment plant near Arcot
Residents of Pindithangal village are protesting the construction of a sewage treatment plant, fearing it will contaminate their groundwater and irrigation sources. Officials argue the plant is necessary and that no other suitable land is available within the town limits.
Why it matters
The conflict illustrates the tension between urban infrastructure development and the environmental concerns of rural farming communities.
Residents of Pindithangal village near Arcot in Ranipet district have been opposing the establishment of a sewage treatment plant by the neighbouring Kalavai town panchayat in their village. They are worried that the groundwater table will be contaminated in Pindithangal and the nearby farming villages.
Residents say more than 3,000 families reside in Pindithangal that comes under the Thimiri panchayat union. Most of the families depend on agriculture and weaving. The plant is proposed for the treatment of sewage from the households in Kalavai, around five km from Pindithangal.
Panchayat officials of Kalavai, which has over 20,000 residents, were unable to locate a plot in the town panchayat because of the high cost. Hence, they identified land in Pindithangal, officials say.
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