The ‘River Tourism’ to be introduced along the Tamirabharani watercourse from Papanasam to Tirunelveli will become an instant hit only if the Tamil Nadu Government takes really tough measures to save the river from serious pollution and encroachment.The government has to curb completely the uncontrolled influx of sewage into the ‘lifeline of southern districts’, check discarding of clothes in river in the guise of religious practise and initiate every possible step to remove the encroachments made along the river by influential individuals. Interestingly, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, while glorifying the river as ‘deity’, has conditioned all these directions to the government.In its Budget presented in the Assembly on Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu Government has allocated ₹53 crore to develop key riverfronts across three major rivers: along the Cauvery from Hogenakkal to Srirangam, along the Vaigai River in Madurai and along the Tamirabarani from Papanasam to Tirunelveli. Additionally, to popularize the rich culinary and artistic heritage of Tamil Nadu, the Government has proposed implement a project to highlight local food tourism routes through dedicated ‘Food and Arts Festivals’, supported by an allocation of another ₹20 crore.The proposal to introduce ‘Tamirabharani River Tourism’ may become an instant money-spinner for the government and the locals by creating a new livelihood. While the operation of pleasure boats along the river will give sizeable revenue to the Department of Tourism or the local bodies concerned, the allied ventures will open the new source of income to the locals.Much has been left to be desired in stopping the flow of sewage getting generated in the towns and villages along the Tamirabharani watercourse into the river. The locals and the visitors pollute the river by discarding clothes, garlands and other materials in the river as part of the decades-old ritual. Even the vehicles including buses and lorries are washed in the river everyday.“Even though 122-Km-long river is the only source of drinking water for the millions of population living in hundreds of local bodies, all urban and rural civic bodies including Tirunelveli Corporation remain mute spectators to the uncontrolled flow of sewage into the river without creating any dependable drainage system. Since the second and third phases of the underground drainage scheme are yet to be completed even after 8 years, thousands of litres of sewage is flowing into the Tamirabharani every hour after it enters Tirunelveli City. So, the success of this proposal lies only on conserving the river from pollution,” says S.P. Muthuraman, a social activist and advocate, who has filed a few cases in Madurai Bench of Madras High Court for conserving Tamirabharani.After the Court’s direction to eradicate completely the discarding of clothes by the devotees taking bath in the river, a few steps have been taken to implement this ruling.The proposal to promote local food tourism by organising food and art festivals with local feel will certainly give a major boost to these activities in Tirunelveli district which is known for a range of snacks and foodstuff its own flavour. After renovating the ‘stone mandapam’ along the Tamirabharani watercourse without harming its originality, the food and art festivals may be conducted in these spots, the conservationists here feel. Published - August 05, 2026 09:15 pm IST