Times of India: Chennai: Saturday, December 23, 2017.
The Cauvery,
among the country's major rivers, carries the highest levels of chemicals
despite lowest discharge of water into the sea, says a government-funded Anna
University study.
While the
annual discharge is close to 8.3 cubic kilometres, the amount of total
dissolved solids (TDS) is almost 753mg per litre, nearly five times what the
Ganga carries, says the study's final report released on December 9.
The high
levels of chemicals in the river have contaminated groundwater in parts of
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, including at Mekadatu, Sriramasamuthiram, Kandiyur,
Appakudathan, Pannavadi and Rudrapatna, making it unsuitable for irrigation and
drinking. Several textile, dyeing, cement and chemical industries located along
the river course discharge tonnes of harmful effluents.
"The
presence of major ions such as sodium and chlorine was much higher in the
Cauvery, particularly near industrial areas, coast and confluence of
tributaries, compared to the other rivers studied," said L Elango,
professor of geology who headed the study.
High levels
of sodium can cause hypertension and reproductive toxicity in humans.
Researchers attribute this to (human) activities such as discharge of
industrial effuents, letting out of sewage and agricultural activities along
the 800km course of the river, from Thalacauvery in Karnataka's Kodagu to
Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu where it empties into the Bay of Bengal.
Passes issued
with no details printed on them
Ticket
sellers at these counters are to enter the name and other details of applicants
in the passes. A ticket examiner on the Tambaram-Mudichur route during a
routine inspection found that many such passes were issued with no details
printedon them. Growing suspicious, other MTC staff filed a complaint with the
corporation headquarters at Pallavan House.
An internal
inquiry revealed V Anandraj, ticketseller at Tambaram depot, recorded half the
number of concession passessoldto public.
Though
hesubmittedbillsclaiming that the other half remained unsold, the investigating
team found out that Anandraj had sold it without entering names and defrauded
the amount collectedthrough it, said V Thalapathi from Nethaji Transport
Workers Association, who brought the scam to light through
theRighttoInformation (RTI) Act.
"His
higher-ups, who were also hand in glove with him, did not crosscheck any of his
bills. Indeed they shared their credentials for accessing the internal server
in which they should approve these claims," he told TOI. Disciplinary
proceedings have been initiated against Anandraj and Shanthi.
Another set
of documents show similar action has been taken against Mohana, a ticket seller
at Vallalar Nagar (Mint). "This makes is evident that nearly 40% of MTC
revenue through sale of such concession fares were swindled by ticket sellers
and their immediate bosses," said another MTCstaff.
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