Recent report by WWF – World wide fund for nature about Nilgiri is distressing.
What is purpose of the report?
The study analysed two areas of concern – the Kallar River and the Bhavani River at Mettupalayam, besides Ooty Lake, Pykara and Moyar.
The rivers feeding the Bhavani and the Moyar basins in the Nilgiri are affected by domestic and industrial pollutants and pose a threat to both people and animals dependent on their waters.
The results of the studies, conducted between 2015 and 2017, were submitted to the Nilgiri District collector.
What are the Key findings of the report?
Kallar River: The study found five million litres per day (MLD) of sewage released from Coonoor town and Cordite factory is going into the river in the absence of infrastructure to treat the waste.
Coliform bacteria in the river was 14 times higher than Central Pollution Control Board norms. (The presence of coliform bacteria indicates the dumping of faecal matter.)
Ooty Lake and Pykara Lake: The treatment plants for domestic sewage generated by Ooty town is the major source of pollution, coliform bacteria levels in Ooty Lake were even higher than in the Kallar River.
The Pykara Lake empties directly into the Moyar River and indirectly, through underground piping, the Singara River.
Both rivers are lifelines for Mukurthi National Park, Mudumalai National Park, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
Moyar River: While WWF’s research did not detect any contamination in Moyar due to the pollution.
The team found heavy eutrophication in Pykara Lake and downstream Glenmorgan reservoir, threatening aquatic life.
Industrial pollution from biotechnology units also appears to have a big impact on the waters that feed the Moyar basin, with one MLD of highly contaminated effluent released into the environment.
What is the way forward?
Nilgiri biosphere is a wide spread area of 5520 sq.km.It is one of the important biodiversity hotspot of the world, it comes under UN’s man and biosphere program.
It is very important that government need to conserve such an important place by providing state of the art infra-structure.
Like Namami Ganga project, schemes for water bodies in the southern part of the nation should be introduced.
The executives and legislatives must work hand in hand to take necessary action with collaboration of native tribes and the locals of the affected region.
