In a review meeting to discuss the measures for establishing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for the textile processing units in Erode, Salem, Namakkal, and Karur districts, the Minister for Handloom and Textiles, S. Gokula Indira informed that out of the 2,090 textile processing units, 1,205 are running with the consent from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), while 885 of them are running without the permission.
Out of the 2,090 textile processing units, 1,007 have agreed to get CETPs established. Additional funds would be needed based on the detailed project report, which is to be submitted by the Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited. This fund would be in addition to the already announced fund of Rs. 700 crore through Rule 110 on August 11, 2014 by the Chief Minister.
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According to the Environment Minister Thoppu N. Venkadachalam, the 5 per cent sludge created through zero liquid discharge (ZLD) treatment plants, which is currently stored in Gummidipoondi plant, could be used as fuel as well as raw materials in cement industries. The setting up of the integrated textile processing plant with ZLD in the four districts would directly create 10,000 jobs and give a boost of Rs. 7,000 crore in the domestic production.
The owners of the textile processing units are facing difficulties in purchasing land for CETP in Salem and financial constraints in contributing 25 per cent of the project cost.
Industries Minister P. Thangamani and Highways Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the projects were aimed at long-term growth of the sector and urged all the unit owners to be members of the project.
