Fri Apr 11 12:58:07 UTC 2025: ## Activists Demand Action to Curb Bhavani River Pollution
**Erode, Tamil Nadu –** A coalition of activists, led by former Bhavanisagar MLA P.L. Sundaram, has called on the Tamil Nadu government to establish a monitoring committee to combat severe pollution in the Bhavani River. The plea, submitted to the Erode District Collector and the Minister for Housing and Urban Development on Friday, April 11th, highlights the river’s crucial role as a drinking water source for three districts and its importance to agriculture and local ecosystems.
The Bhavani River Joint Movement, formed in 2023, points to industrial effluents as the primary cause of the pollution, citing a recent incident where a six-kilometer stretch of the river near Sirumugai turned yellow, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend its use for drinking water.
The petition demands stringent action against polluting industries and local bodies responsible for the contamination. It proposes a committee comprised of representatives from the Water Resources Department, Revenue Department, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and public welfare organizations to oversee monitoring and enforcement efforts. The movement’s convenor, S.C. Natraj, joined in presenting the petition.
First Piper 