TIRUPUR: With the processing sector struggling to mobilise over Rs. 200 crore - 50 per cent of the project cost to ensure zero effluent discharge - by the month-end, industry associations here have made a fresh appeal for implementing a scheme to discharge effluents into the sea as a lasting solution.

The Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA), backing the beleaguered dyers, argues that zero effluent discharge has not been achieved anywhere in the world.

"All our competing countries are letting out the treated effluents into rivers or sea. There is no problem in installing reverse osmosis plants to recover the water. But handling the nearly 35 per cent rejects by the plants is a big problem. For that we need to have evaporators, which are highly expensive. The recurring cost is also huge," says TEA president A. Sakthivel.

"We feel that marine discharge is the only viable solution. For that, the State and Central Governments should provide 50 per cent of the total cost as grant. On the lines of the water supply scheme, it can be executed under public-private partnership.

The industry is ready to contribute its share. We can implement the scheme on a build-operate-transfer basis," he says. The approximate cost will come to Rs. 450 crore.

The Madras High Court has ordered the 600-odd dyeing and bleaching units to deposit Rs. 200 crore before February 28. The Dyers Association of Tirupur (DAT) has expressed inability to raise the sum at short notice.

Government grant sought

Farmers downstream the Noyyal, whose livelihood has been threatened, are hoping for a solution.

The court was unhappy over the slow progress in installing effluent recycling plants by the dyeing units.

"Unless the State and the Centre help us by providing grant and the financial institutions adopt a liberal approach, it will not be possible to attain zero discharge," DAT president N. Kandaswamy told The Hindu .

He appealed to the Chief Minister to help them out in the hour of crisis.

"It is needless to say the shutters will be closed down automatically. Huge investments being made in the knitwear industry will go waste, and the future of 10 lakh workers will be in jeopardy."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail