Untreated waste, poor civic infra mar Erode (East) Assembly constituency

Erode (East) voters prioritize pollution control, traffic solutions, and urban infrastructure as key issues ahead of upcoming elections.

A constituency that has witnessed two by-elections in the last three years, Erode (East) is a predominantly urban seat, with nearly two-thirds of its areas falling within the Erode Corporation limits.

A major commercial centre, it reflects both the economic activity and civic pressures of a fast-growing city.

Known as the ‘Turmeric City’, ‘Textile City’, and ‘Loom City’, Erode is also the birthplace of social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Textile markets, power loom units, cattle shandy, and turmeric trade are central to the local economy.

The discharge of untreated effluents by textile processing units into the Cauvery river and the Kalingarayan Canal continues to be a major concern. Despite the presence of effluent treatment plants, several of the over 500 bleaching, dyeing, and tannery units in the city release untreated waste into channels such as Perumpallam, Pichaikaranpallam, and Sunnambu, which eventually drain into the Cauvery.

Delays in the underground sewerage scheme (UGSS) have compounded the problem, with more than 40 million litres per day of untreated sewage entering waterbodies. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2023 identified the river stretch passing through the city as one of the polluted stretches in the country due to sewage inflow. “Promises made during elections to address pollution and civic issues remain unfulfilled,” said V. Santhosh, an entrepreneur. Although Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had announced the establishment of additional effluent treatment plants during a visit to Pollachi in 2024, residents point to limited progress.

The constituency houses the second-largest turmeric market in the country, earning it the name ‘Manjal Maanagaram’. However, traders and farmers have been seeking infrastructure support, including a cold storage facility, a regional office of the National Turmeric Board, and an accredited testing laboratory.