Farmers and residents have opposed the proposal to set up Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) on the riverbed of Vaippar river in Muthulapuram in Thoothukudi district, expressing fears that the facility could contaminate groundwater in the area.
It was said that the District Rural Development Agency has proposed a land which is under classification of mattuthavani for setting up the facility to handle waste from Vilathikulam and Pudur blocks which together have around 90 village panchayats. However, the proposal has not been well received among the farmers and residents, who fear that the facility could pose sanitation hazards and contaminate groundwater, leading to various health risks.
A. Varadharajan, president of Karisal Bhoomi Farmers Association said that Muthulapuram panchayat is well known for its cattle market, which happens twice every year. He added in the past, farmers who purchased cattle at the market would test the animals on the sand of the Muthulapuram river to determine whether they were suitable for ploughing and carrying loads.
He said Muthulapuram river is an important source of drinking water and it serves numerous villages including Ayan Rajapatti, Muthulapuram, Thappathi, M. Kottur, Ayan Vadamalapuram and several other villages.
Mr. Varadharajan raised apprehension saying that during monsoon when the river water rises and floods its banks, there was a possibility of human waste from the treatment facility mixing with the water.
John Kennedy, a resident of M. Kottur also expressed similar concern and said the government should consider alternative sites for the project.
Speaking on this, an official from DRDA said that the site had only been proposed and not finalised. The official said the proposed site did not fall under water course poramboke and added that the department was also exploring other sites for the facility.
Published – September 25, 2026 07:54 pm IST
