In all, 1,007 out of the total 2,090 textile processing units in the districts of Erode, Namakkal, Salem and Karur have given their consent for joining the Integrated Textile Processing Park, which will be having a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) facility.
Discharge of untreated industrial effluents into the Cauvery, Bhavani and Amarvathi rivers have long been an issue in this area. Keeping the people and the environment of this area in mind, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had in 2014 announced the setting up of a common effluent treatment plant facility (CETP) in these four districts to prevent further pollution. The estimated cost of setting up this facility is Rs 700 crore.
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The objective of setting up the CEPT facility was to bring all textile processing units under one roof in the identified areas, so that effluents can be treated here. The Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company was vested with the responsibility of preparing feasibility reports. The company is in the process and has carried out surveys in the four districts, of which Bhavani, Perundurai and Erode clusters have already submitted their reports. The remaining clusters are still preparing their reports. The proposed cost for establishing CETPs along with power generation units have been worked out at Rs 1,118 crore for Erode (at Rs 784 crore) and Namakkal clusters (at Rs 334 crores). According to officials, the survey in the Salem and Edappadi clusters is expected to completed within a week.
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After the preliminary survey and preparation of reports, textile dyeing clusters would establish a special purpose vehicle, purchase land and execute the shareholders agreement. Later, a detailed project report would be prepared that would include effluent sampling and analysis, technology options for CETPs. Besides, other stags include environmental impact assessment, financial closure and finally implementing the projects, operations and maintenance.
