Adversity of industrial water pollution on agriculture and livelihood: Experiences of rural population of Dindigul

Tannery pollution affected water and livelihood of people in Dindigul. Polluted water and soil reduced agricultural production; contaminate drinking water, and livelihood. The present study aims to study the adverse effects of industrial pollution on agriculture and livelihood in Dindigul. Twenty randomly villages drawn with equal number from the vicinity of tanneries and far. A survey was conducted using structured interview schedule among 400 men and women of 18 years and above from 20 villages. Details on Socio-Economic characteristics, water, agriculture and livelihood collected online using Kobo toolbox in Tamil language. In affected and non-affected villages 71 and 102 hold agricultural land only 53 and 87 have cultivated respectively. One third in affected villages and two thirds in non-affected villages cultivated throughout the year. Tanneries affected the livestock population, reduced agricultural production, polluted irrigation, polluted soil and made it infertile, deteriorated the quality of agricultural produce. Compared to economic benefits from tanneries the damage are exorbitant. Politicians and policy makers ignored pollution and turned blind eye to the problems caused to the rural population and livelihood.