Tirupur dyers want zero liquid discharge norms relaxed

In an interactive meeting with the minister in Tirupur, representatives of the dyeing unit association claimed that they are following zero liquid discharge (ZLD) norms and old regulations should be withdrawn to boost the industry.

President of the dyers association S Nagarajan claimed that the State Government had passed separate GOs about 15 years ago that dyeing units should not be located within a radius of 5 km and 1 km from the banks of a river as they discharging effluents into the rivers and water bodies and also directly polluting underground water. He claimed they were now practicing zero discharge (of effluents) by treating it. 

Dyers pressed for relaxation of norms and sought permission for establishing new units. They urged the government to use various unused by-products from the effluents such as solid wastes from various salts as fuel (after treating it). They also said that treated wastes with calcium could be used for cement production and sale of a few salts as sulphate. 

Responding to their demands, the minister said that 90 per cent of the dyers in Tirupur are complying to the zero effluent discharge norms and are properly treating effluents. He made an appeal to the dyeing units to adhere to the norms stipulated by the government.  

Palanisamy said that they are in the process of considering relaxation of the GO that had put an end to establishment of dyeing units close to rivers. He added that talks are on to send the piled up solid wastes from dyeing units to cement companies. 

About the interest free loan to the tune of Rs. 200 crore allotted for establishment of effluent treatment plants to prevent direct discharge of effluents into waterbodies, he said 40 per cent of the money is yet to be used. 

After testing the quality of water in Nanjarayan Tank, the minister said that it was suitable for irrigation. He also inspected a couple of other water bodies and Noyyal before meeting the dyers.