Yellow-coloured well water deepens Vellalore residents’ concerns

Residents of Vellalore have once again raised concerns over groundwater contamination allegedly caused by the municipal dump yard in the area, after water in a private well turned yellow due to suspected pollution.
People living in and around the Vellalore dump yard have been facing several problems for many years, including foul smell, groundwater pollution and breathing difficulties caused by frequent fire incidents at the waste disposal site.
A private coconut grove located in Sriram Nagar, near the dump yard, depends on a well for irrigation. According to local residents, polluted leachate from the dump yard, along with contaminated rainwater runoff, has seeped into the soil and mixed with groundwater, resulting in discoloured water in the well on several occasions.
A similar incident was reported again on Tuesday. However, residents said the contamination appeared more severe this time, with the well water turning distinctly yellow. They alleged that the use of the polluted water for irrigation has affected the coconut trees, causing the coconuts to turn black and impacting agricultural productivity.
Residents further stated that groundwater in the locality has already become unsuitable for several domestic cleaning purposes, forcing many families to depend on water brought from outside the area. The latest incident has also created difficulties for farmers and landowners maintaining groves in the vicinity.
For years, residents of Vellalore have been demanding the permanent removal of the dump yard, citing its impact on public health and the environment. They expressed hope that the State Government would take concrete steps to address the long-pending issue and provide a lasting solution to the affected communities.