Impact of Tirupur Garment Industrial Effluents Discharges on Agriculture at Noyyal River Basin

Abstract

A study was conducted in Noyyal river basin to analyze the external effects of industrial development. Tiruppur is known world wide for hosiery and garments. It is an undisputed fact that the ground water and surface water is contaminated from the discharge of treated / untreated effluents from the textile units. Based on the extent of external impacts on land and water resources, two affected and two non-affected villages are selected and data are selected from 120 farm households. In the Noyyal river effluent affected area only 35.91 per cent of the agricultural lands are under cultivation, whereas it is 94.08 per cent in the Noyyal river effluent not affected area. The pollution impact on land is analysed through productivity of land, ie., the per acre agricultural income. Per acre agricultural income for effluent affected village was Rs. 3366. But for effluent not affected village it is Rs. 44273. The average loss of effluent affected and not affected village farmers per acre earning is Rs. 40907. The results suggested that the water in the river was polluted and not good for agriculture. It is therefore recommended that unless the authorities implement the laws governing the disposal of wastes, this may affect the lives of the people.