Erode residents raise alarm over yellow groundwater near Vendipalayam dump yard
Residents of Vendipalayam and adjoining localities in Ward 60 of Erode have alleged that groundwater in their areas has turned yellow and emitted a foul smell, which they attribute to leachate from the Erode Corporation's municipal solid waste dump yard. They have urged the civic body to conduct a scientific assessment of water quality and take corrective action.
The dump yard has been operational for over six decades amid residential neighbourhoods, despite repeated requests for its relocation. Residents claim that although waste segregation is carried out at the site, large quantities of unsegregated waste continue to accumulate, leading to persistent odour and environmental pollution.
The Erode Corporation generates roughly 250 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. While biodegradable waste is processed at 25 micro-composting centres and recyclable materials are recovered, around 100 tonnes of dry waste is transported to the Vendipalayam dump yard every day.
In 2021, the Corporation completed bio-mining of about 4.45 lakh cubic metres of legacy waste at the site. However, fresh dry waste has been dumped there since then. The accumulated waste is estimated to exceed two lakh tonnes, though officials said precise data were not available.
Residents allege that leachate from the accumulated waste has seeped into the ground, contaminating groundwater. They claim that borewell water in parts of Vendipalayam has turned yellow and become unfit for domestic use. One resident said, “The foul odour spreads across a large area, and now even groundwater has become unusable. The Corporation should assess the quality of the water and take corrective measures without delay.”
They have also reiterated their demand for shifting the dump yard, citing environmental pollution and public health concerns. However, some residents attribute the discolouration of groundwater to untreated effluents from textile processing units in the area. They note that the Kalingarayan Canal passes through Vendipalayam and the Cauvery flows nearby, raising the possibility of industrial pollution affecting water quality.
A senior official from the Corporation's health department told The Hindu that the civic body is implementing a zero-dumping policy, expected to be achieved over the next two years. A detailed project report is being prepared for a Bio-CNG plant at the site to convert biodegradable waste into energy. “Once the project is commissioned, there will be no fresh dumping at the yard, and the accumulated waste will also be bio-mined,” the official said. Sources said water samples collected periodically from various locations had not revealed any contamination, but residents remain unconvinced and seek an independent assessment.
