Jairam Ramesh, Maran to take up TN textile units' pollution issue with FM

COIMBATORE: A joint delegation of Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran and minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh are scheduled to meet Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee soon to seek central assistance for the Rs 800-crore effluent treatment and discharge scheme by the textile units in Tamil Nadu.

A release from the Union Ministry of Textiles said Mr Ramesh has expressed his desire for a joint delegation to the finance minister to press for immediate release of funds to strengthen the initiative. He also agreed to put forward these issues before the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to initiate urgent implementation.

On Tuesday, Mr Maran along with a delegation comprising exporters from and senior officers in the textile ministry discussed the effluent discharge problem faced by the dyeing units with Mr Ramesh.

Tamil Nadu is the only State enforcing zero level discharge (ZSD) by the units. This is based on the assurance by the previous AIADMK Government to the Supreme Court. But, to maintain the standard, the units required Rs 600-800 crore, which could not be funded by the state government alone, Mr Maran said.

"The entire textile industry in the state will be affected, especially units at Erode, Karur, Kumarpalayam and Tirupur, if funds are not allocated for setting up the common effluent treatment plants (CETPs)," he added.
Tirupur Exporters��� Association president A Sakthivel, who was also part of the delegation, told ET that Mr Ramesh also agreed the state government alone could not provide the funds to modernise the facilities.

He said, anticipating financial aid from state and central governments, 20 CETPs (to benefit 560 units in Tirupur) were being built by Tirupur Dyers Association at a cost of Rs 800 crore. " The construction is almost over and the plants would start functioning soon," Mr Sakthivel added.

Of the Rs 800 crore, the Centre is expected to fund around Rs 480 crore and the state government, around Rs 120 crore. "The dyers association has borrowed money from banks and built the plants. Unless the governments release the funds, it would be tough for them even to pay the interest," Mr Sakthivel said.

Mr Maran said TN Government has also drawn up plans for establishing an underground pipeline, which will run via Tirupur, Erode, Karur and Namakkal and discharge treated effluents into the sea. "It would entail an expenditure of Rs 800 to Rs 900 crore," he said, adding, "the Ministry of Science and Technology has agreed to undertake the study for this marine project," Mr Sakthivel added.

Recently, speaking at an export function, Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin referred to the underground pipeline project and said it has also been represented to the 13th finance commission for providing the entire assistance.

He hoped Centre would help the State to get assistance soon for setting up effluent treatment plants like it has extended to leather processing units.

He said handlooms, powerlooms and knitwear are the major sectors in the state, but it is facing multiple problems in following the rules relating to environment protection, those enforced by pollution control board and the decrees passed by High Court and Supreme Court.