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An assessment of the quality of water from Tiruchendur temple, Tamil Nadu.

2009; Volume: 4; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

0976-8963

A Saravana Ganthi, S. A. Berkmans,

Water Quality and Pollution Assessment

Tourism today is one of the worlds fastest growing industries. Most of the countries considered tourism as potential economic development activity. In all the advanced countries, domestic tourism occupies predominant place. In recent year, the number of domestic tourists has gone up very high. The origin of domestic tourism in India has to be traced in pilgrimage. Pilgrimage may be reported as the oldest branch of home tourism. Tamil Nadu is a unique and fascinating state. Pilgrim tourism is one of the major segments of tourism in Tamil Nadu. They visit places of worships according to the faith. Tiruchendur is 56km from Tirunelveli and can be reached by trains and by buses. Tiruchendur is very popular sea shore temple. Being the second Aarupadai veedu of Lord Muruga, Tiruchendur finds an important place on the world map. Millions of pilgrims from all over India visit Tiruchendur every year. A large number of pilgrims visit Tiruchendur on various religious occasions such as Soora Samharam, Thiru Karthigai, Thai Poosam, Pongal and Maasi Thiruvizha. Due to mass gathering of pilgrims on such occasion problem of garbage and sewage disposal becomes deplorable. There is a holy well Nazhi Kinaru, which is a not a drinking water reservoir. But it has a great religious value for pilgrims. The well is believed to be millions time potent than the Ganges rivers, because by bathing in the Ganges, they sets only “Mukti’ but by bathing Nazhi Kinaru, one achieves affections and love of Lord Murugan. Thus, bathing makes its water highly polluted. Similarly, during the festival day thousands of pilgrims take bath simultaneously in sea water. Being an important domestic tourist centre, it is necessary to examine water quality. So, it was realized to analyse the well, sea and drinking water to assess the state of pollution and to suggest some remedial measures.