The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Ten CETPs sign pact to install RO plants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Others

Ten CETPs sign pact to install RO plants

M. Gunasekaran

Study planned on discharge of wastes into sea

TIRUPUR: Ten Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) here have signed agreements with the Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company (TWICL) to establish primary treatment and reverse osmosis plants.

They comprise 320 dyeing and bleaching units across Tirupur. They have made a payment of Rs. 3 crores — 1.5 per cent of the total project cost.

Closure order

All the 700-odd dyeing units had began the process of establishing RO plants six months ago, as the High Court ordered closure of majority of them.

With the existing eight CETPs, the dyeing units have formed 11 new CETPs to attain zero effluent discharge into the Noyyal River and entrusted the task with TWICL and other agencies.

In July, some organisations associated with Russia came forward to help the dyers with a new technology, electro dynamic hydrowave.

The dyers were enthused because of its low investment and low operational costs.

"We are running short of time. We have to comply with the court directive and it wanted the issue to be solved in a time-bound manner. We cannot wait endlessly for the Russians and since we dropped the move,'' the chairman of the Veerapandy CETP, K. M. Subramaniam, told The Hindu .

The TWICL will adopt biological treatment, which is eco-friendly and will install RO plants.

Study

An experts' team of TWICL zeroed in on this after an extensive study.

The High Court's monitoring committee was here last week to oversee the progress.

The case will come up before the court on October 20.

According to industry sources, the State Government has come forward to favourably consider marine discharge if the court directed it to do so.

Water usage

For this, they should install RO and reuse 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the water.

Only 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the final rejects from RO will be allowed for sea discharge, sources said.

Tirupur dyeing units are using 100 mld of water.

Government gesture

The Government's gesture, according to them, will help the industry and three lakh workers.

It could not extend financial assistance and the industry should explore the option of Build-Operate-Own-Transfer (BOOT) mode.

To handle the RO rejects, it needs multiple evaporators and solar beds that involve huge investment and extensive recurring costs, says N. Kandasamy, president of the Dyers Association of Tirupur.

"Operating evaporators will inevitably escalate dyeing charges. That is why our members are hesitant to go for ROs. Marine discharge, at least for the RO rejects, is the only permanent solution and many countries are having it."

The marine discharge idea is at a very preliminary stage.

"We will soon appoint an agency to make a survey on the cost of project and its impact on environment. We will request the court to allow the same,'' Mr. Subramaniam said.

All the 19 CETPs are in favour of marine discharge.

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