Untreated waste, poor civic infra mar Erode (East) Assembly constituency

A constituency that has witnessed two by-elections in the last three years, Erode (East) is a predominantly urban seat, with nearly two-thirds of its areas falling within the Erode Corporation limits.

A major commercial centre, it reflects both the economic activity and civic pressures of a fast-growing city.

Known as the ‘Turmeric City’, ‘Textile City’, and ‘Loom City’, Erode is also the birthplace of social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Textile markets, power loom units, cattle shandy, and turmeric trade are central to the local economy.

Pollution woes

The discharge of untreated effluents by textile processing units into the Cauvery river and the Kalingarayan Canal continues to be a major concern. Despite the presence of effluent treatment plants, several of the over 500 bleaching, dyeing, and tannery units in the city release untreated waste into channels such as Perumpallam, Pichaikaranpallam, and Sunnambu, which eventually drain into the Cauvery.

Delays in the underground sewerage scheme (UGSS) have compounded the problem, with more than 40 million litres per day of untreated sewage entering waterbodies. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2023 identified the river stretch passing through the city as one of the polluted stretches in the country due to sewage inflow. “Promises made during elections to address pollution and civic issues remain unfulfilled,” said V. Santhosh, an entrepreneur. Although Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had announced the establishment of additional effluent treatment plants during a visit to Pollachi in 2024, residents point to limited progress.

Turmeric market

The constituency houses the second-largest turmeric market in the country, earning it the name ‘Manjal Maanagaram’. However, traders and farmers have been seeking infrastructure support, including a cold storage facility, a regional office of the National Turmeric Board, and an accredited testing laboratory.

Urban infrastructure has not kept pace with expansion. Traffic congestion persists, with demands for flyovers on Mettur Road, Perundurai Road, Kollampalayam, and at Panneerselvam Park junction. Unauthorised parking and traffic violations affecting other road users remain a concern for motorists, with little enforcement in place. The absence of multi-level parking facilities adds to the problem. “Delay in implementing the UGSS and re-laying damaged roads is affecting residents and motorists,” said P. Krishnan, a voter from Karungalpalayam.

Civic issues include poor solid waste management, encroachments on road space, the stray dog menace, irregular drinking water supply, and unplanned urbanisation. “Measures to decongest roads and improve sanitation need priority,” said V. Amutha, a resident of Sampath Nagar.

Voter demographic

Of the 60 wards in the Corporation, 33 fall within the constituency. Members of the Sengunthar Mudaliar and Kongu Vellalar Gounder communities account for a significant share of the electorate, with North Indian settlers and others forming the rest.

Since delimitation, the constituency has seen different parties elected: V.C. Chandhirakumar (DMDK) in 2011, K.S. Thennarasu (AIADMK) in 2016, E. Thirumahan Everaa in 2021, E.V.K.S. Elangovan in the 2023 bypoll, and V.C. Chandhirakumar (DMK) in the 2025 bypoll.

With an electorate of about 1.76 lakh, Erode (East) has the lowest number of voters among the eight constituencies in the district. As many as 53,528 names were deleted following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), making it the only Constituency in the district with fewer than two lakh voters.

While there is speculation that the Minister for Housing, Prohibition and Excise may contest from the constituency, the AIADMK is likely to allot the seat to its alliance partner, the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), which may field its general secretary, M. Yuvaraja.

There is a sense among voters that civic issues have persisted despite repeated electoral promises.

With the election approaching, the constituency is likely to witness a multi-cornered contest. Issues such as pollution, traffic congestion, and urban infrastructure are expected to figure prominently in the campaign, even as voters look for concrete outcomes.

Published – March 21, 2026 01:11 pm IST