Tamil Nadu Environment Minister’s remark on soap, shampoo use causing Noyyal River foaming draws ire

V.K. Rajeev. File | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam A comment by Tamil Nadu Minister for Environment and Climate Change V.K. Rajeev, that soap and shampoo used by the public can also cause excessive foaming in the Noyyal River, which flows through Tiruppur district, has sparked criticism.Speaking to mediapersons after an inspection of the river on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), the Minister made this statement while warning dyeing and textile units of strict action if they released untreated effluents into the river, taking advantage of the copious flow of rainwater during the Northeast monsoon season.After a controversy erupted over his statement, the Minister, speaking to the media in Chennai on Wednesday (October 28), emphasised that the combination of surfactants, detergents, and phosphorus was responsible for excessive foaming of waterbodies, not industrial effluents. The State government had been taking all measures to ensure that people were not affected by hazardous waste, he added.He said complaints were being examined and addressed promptly. Recently, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) inspected Vaniyambadi and found that the foaming was caused by surfactants and not industrial effluents.Environmental activists and farmers have, for long, been complaining about foaming in the Noyyal River throughout the year. The TNPCB will issue a statement on the issue, official sources said.‘Even children know why foaming occurs’: AnbumaniReacting to the Minister’s statement, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss criticised Mr. Rajiv on Wednesday, saying that “even children know that the foaming of rivers such as the Noyyal is caused by the discharge of wastes into them.” He demanded concrete action to protect rivers.“The uncontrolled discharge of textile dyeing effluents into the Noyyal River in Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Karur districts is the reason for the excessive foaming. It is also widely known that the contamination of the Orathuppalayam Dam, built across the Noyyal River, with textile dyeing effluents has prompted farmers to protest against the opening of the dam,” he said.The excessive foaming at the Kelavarapalli Dam on the Thenpennai River is caused by the discharge of waste into the river in Karnataka, he said, adding that he had personally inspected both rivers on several occasions and urged the authorities to take action to prevent the discharge of effluents into them. The Supreme Court, too, has issued several orders to the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in this regard, he said.He further pointed out that the Minister had praised the functioning of the textile dyeing effluent treatment facilities in the district while assuring dyeing mill owners that steps would be taken to fulfil their demands. “This raises serious doubts about whose interests the Minister is representing and whose voice he is echoing,” Dr. Anbumani said. Published - October 28, 2026 03:31 pm IST