Salt production hit by untreated sewage
Salt production has come down drastically due to raw untreated sewage being let out into the south Buckingham Canal and the early closure of the sand bar at the mouth of the canal where it joins the Bay of Bengal.
Over the last 10 years, salt production in Kelambakkam, Thiruvidanthai, Thaiyyur, and Kalavakkam – villages south of Chennai – has reduced from the minimum of 70,000 tonnes a year. Around 3,500 acres of land has been leased out by the Central (2,500 acres) and State governments (950 acres in Kadambadi near Mamallapuram) to salt manufacturers.
Inland fishermen say that there is a huge drop in fish production and many fishermen have skin ailments due to standing in polluted water. Many villages including Kovalam, Kanathur and Pudhu Kalpakkam, have been hit by the same issues.
B. Ramadas of Kovalam says that around 500 men in his village are dependent on the canal. A row of pillars constructed to carry a pipeline from the desalination plant has also caused a blockage in the canal. The contractors have not removed the earth dumped during the construction.
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Source: The Hindu
Bay of Bengal, Chennai, fish production, Kalavakkam, Kanathur, Kelambakkam, Kovalam, polluted water, Pudhu Kalpakkam, Salt production, Sewage, Skin ailments, south Buckingham Canal, Thaiyyur, Thiruvidanthai, Untreated sewage
