The residents of Ranipet alleged that gunny bags used for carrying toxic chemicals, including Ammonia and Sodium Sulphate to industries in RanipetSipcot, were being cleaned in the river for the last several years.

Owing to the pollution, quality of the water being supplied to nearby areas, including Ranipet and Walajah towns on the banks of the river, has been deteriorating year after year.

R Murthi, who hails from Karpagavinyagar Street of Ranipet, told Express that over 70 per cent of the residents had been depending on private water cans due to the poor quality of water.

Acting on the complaint lodged by residents and Ranipet Municipality, Public Works Department inspected the spot and caught three persons — P Dhayalan (26), P Mathivanan (27) and S Umabathi (42) — and handed them over to Ranipet Police.