Villagers oppose setting up of sewage treatment plant near Sholinghur town in Ranipet

Villagers, mostly farmers and traders, staged a protest on Arakkonam – Sholinghur Main Road, on Friday against setting up a new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Udayarpalayam hamlet by Sholinghur municipality due to fear of pollution of ground water in surrounding farming villages and Palar River.

Residents said Udayarpalayam hamlet forms part of Pandiyanallur village panchayat that comes under Sholinghur panchayat union in the district. The hamlet has around 1,500 residents, who are mostly farmers and petty traders. “The proposed treatment plant will have an impact on water quality in surrounding villages that depend on agriculture. The Sholinghur municipality should identify a plot in its limits for the new facility,” said K. Raman, a farmer.

Residents said the village has a few water bodies and most farming activities in surrounding villages are done through bore wells.