Toxic foam forms on water released from Kelavarapalli dam in Hosur; affects farmlands, disrupts traffic
Heavy rains in Karnataka and Krishnagiri have prompted an increase in inflow into the Kelavarapalli dam over the last few days.
Toxic foam affecting agricultural lands along Thenpennai river (Thanthi TV)
COIMBATORE: Toxic foams emerged in water released from Kelavarapalli dam in Hosur in Krishnagiri district, resulting in disruption of traffic.
Perhaps, the discharge of industrial effluents from Karnataka is blamed for high levels of pollution in the Thenpennai river.
Heavy rains in Karnataka and Krishnagiri have prompted an increase in inflow into the Kelavarapalli dam over the last few days.
A surge in water flow in the river, already mixed with industrial effluents into the river, has turned it foamy. The inundated low-lying bridge on Hosur-Nandimangalam Road was blanketed with mounds of froth by a few feet in height.
Because of the foamy obstruction, vehicle movement to over ten villages including Nandimangalam, Thattanapalli, Chithanapalli and Devichettipalli has been stopped.
Efforts were underway by workers to clear the foams by spraying water. Police from Nallur station were deployed on the road stretch to stop and divert vehicles. Therefore, villagers were forced to take a detour of around 15 km to reach Hosur.
“It has been one of our long-time demands of villagers that the water should be treated before it enters Tamil Nadu from Karnataka,” said villagers.
Meanwhile, A flood alert has been issued to three districts as the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project (KRP) dam in Krishnagiri has reached its brim. Alert is issued to people living along the Thenpennai river in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Tiruvannamalai as the dam reached 50.45 feet as against its full reservoir level of 52 feet on Thursday.
Following heavy rains in catchment areas, the inflow into the dam surged from 2,324 cusecs on Wednesday to 3,438 cusecs on Thursday, 6 am and further to 6,000 cusecs at 10 am.