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Efforts on to revive effluent plant project in Edayar industrial area
Efforts on to revive effluent plant project in Edayar industrial area

The Hindu

timea day ago

  • Business
  • The Hindu

Efforts on to revive effluent plant project in Edayar industrial area

The government is exploring options to revive the project to set up a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) for industrial units along the Eloor-Edayar stretch of the Periyar. The much-delayed project was expected to get a push after the government had earmarked around ₹30 crore towards a ₹250-crore assistance promised by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for setting up CETPs in various industrial estates in the State. However, the Centre's borrowing restrictions on the State had delayed its implementation. Industries Minister P. Rajeeve said on Tuesday that the restrictions on taking loans had impacted the CETP project under assistance from the SIDBI. However, the government was looking at whether it could be included under the Guarantee Redemption Fund (GDR), which was meant to cover government guarantees offered for loans availed by public sector entities and cooperatives, he said. The monthly progress report on the updated status of the short- and long-term projects for the rejuvenation of the Periyar submitted before the Ministry of Jal Shakthi for May had quoted a decision taken at a meeting called by the Chief Secretary on February 9, 2023 saying that the CETP project might be dropped. All the units may be advised to have their own facilities for treatment of effluents. The fund allotted for the project may be utilised for any other liquid waste treatment project, it said. According to the detailed project report for the CETP in Edayar, the proposed plant will have the capacity to treat two million litres per day. A preliminary report prepared by the Kerala Water Authority said that the site identified for the project was close to the north-western portion of the industrial estate, which was previously occupied by the now defunct Periyar Chemical Industries. There was sufficient land with a facility to discharge to the downstream of the Pathalam regulator-cum-bridge of the Periyar, it said.

From dirty to dazzling: Why Tiruppur is recycling 130 million litres water everyday
From dirty to dazzling: Why Tiruppur is recycling 130 million litres water everyday

Time of India

time25-06-2025

  • Business
  • Time of India

From dirty to dazzling: Why Tiruppur is recycling 130 million litres water everyday

It was 2011, a year deeply etched in Tiruppur's memory. The Madras High Court, after hearing a contempt petition, delivered a landmark judgment, ordering the closure of all dyeing and bleaching units in Tiruppur to save the Noyyal River from pollution and toxic waste emanating from these units. Additionally, the HC instructed these units to achieve zero liquid discharge of effluents before resuming operations. Following the court order, over 700 bleaching units, dyeing units, and common effluent treatment plants ( CETPs ) closed their shutters, leading to a loss of employment for more than 40,000-50,000 workers and an estimated daily financial impact of Rs 50 crore. Tiruppur is the largest textile hub in the country, contributing over 54% to India's overall knitwear exports. The judgement was a pivotal moment that changed everything for Tiruppur; it served as a wake-up call for the textile cluster and marked the beginning of their sustainable journey. More than a year and a half after the HC ruling, 18 CETPs reopened in June 2012 after implementing a zero liquid discharge ( ZLD ) system, which recovers and reuses nearly all industrial effluent, leaving only solid waste. Initially, the units were allowed to operate at a minimum of 15% to 30% of their capacity by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board ( TNPCB ) for trial purposes. Next, the latest technology machines and equipment were installed, which significantly improved capacity utilisation. In December 2016, the central government approved Rs 200 crore for the Tiruppur dyeing industry, which was on the verge of closure due to huge investments in the ZLD project. 'The move will help ailing CETPs and 450 dyeing units to recover from the financial crisis and help them to complete the project to achieve 100% capacity utilisation,' the Union Textile Ministry stated in a release. Live Events At that point, 450 dyeing units had collectively set up 18 ZLD-enabled CETPs at a total cost of Rs 1,013 crore. In fact, they have doubled down on their sustainable efforts since then. Tiruppur, as a cluster, currently recycles nearly 130 million litres of water every day. 'The project has become a global standard and appreciated by the environmentalist and processing industry world over,' the ministry stated. 'Tirupur has formed CETPS and implemented ZLD in all CETPs as a result, there has been significant improvement in the water quality,' says Indumathi M. Nambi, Professor in Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras. He suggests that textile clusters in Erode, Kancheepuram, and Rasipuram, as well as other states, should follow. IIT Madras It is widely known that the textile industry is a water guzzler and a major contributor to environmental pollution, chipping away at the planet's natural resources. According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), producing just 1 kg of cotton requires 7,500-10,000 litres of water; additionally, dyeing processes demand 5 trillion litres of water annually, with 200 tonnes of water needed to produce each tonne of fabric during dyeing. Notably, 20% of industrial pollution worldwide stems from dyeing and finishing fabrics, the report says. The WEF states that producing and consuming garments more sustainably could enhance the global economy by nearly $200 billion by 2030. Against this backdrop, can the Tiruppur model serve as an inspiration for others to adopt practices that may aid in reducing water consumption and waste pollution within the sector? Showing the Way The amount of water the Tiruppur cluster recycled every day is equivalent to 50% of the total drinking water consumed by people in Tamil Nadu, according to Sudhakaran Kalidas , Joint Secretary, Dyers Association of Tiruppur (DAT). He tells ET Digital at the association's office in Tiruppur that they have been doing this for more than a decade now. Currently, there are 360 dyeing units operating in and around the city. Of these, 60 are Individual Effluent Treatment Plants (IETPs), while the remaining units have established 18 CETPs for the treatment of the generated effluent, as per data from DAT. CETPs are designed to treat wastewater from multiple industries, reducing the environmental impact of industrial activities. When integrated with a ZLD system, CETPs can achieve zero wastewater discharges, thereby minimising environmental pollution. Tiruppur is using this process to its fullest potential. 'Distilled water is usually let into the streams here; not a single drop of water reaches the earth. So even a single drop will be taken, recycled again and again every day, and a number of times. And it is not just water; we are recycling plastics, fibre, carton boxes, and more. It (Tiruppur) is an entire recycling hub,' says Kalidas, his sense of accomplishment evident in his voice. Also Read: Tiruppur in trouble? What is ailing this Rs 70,000-crore textile cluster from scaling up He notes that the extent to which ZLD is being implemented in Tiruppur makes it the only such cluster to be pulling off such sustainability efforts of this scale. Advanced technologies are employed to treat and recycle wastewater, which makes the water suitable for reuse in the dyeing process. The CETPs and IETPs at Tiruppur not only treat 130 million litres of dye effluent daily, but also recover 92% of pure water for reuse in processing through the ZLD technology. The appropriate term for textiles in Tiruppur, as per Kalidas, should be 'eco-friendly and recycled', instead of 'biodegradable'. 'From an environmental angle, everything that we do is sustainable. Cotton comes here after spinning; we don't use raw cotton. It is then converted from fibre to yarn, and then that yarn comes to Tiruppur for converting to fabric. So, from the yarn stage itself, all companies are going forward on the sustainable front,' he explains. Sudhakaran Kalidas, Joint Secretary, Dyers Association of Tiruppur (DAT) says that the appropriate term for textiles in Tiruppur should be 'eco-friendly' and 'recycled.' He says that the future is in recycling, whether it is biodegradable or not. 'Everything is getting recycled here; even wastages from the garment are taken back, recycled and converted into fresh yarn.' Making Every Drop Count—How it Works A thorough examination of the production processes at Tiruppur offers further insights into the integration of various elements that contribute to huge environmental savings daily, particularly in terms of water usage. DAT emphasises that the operation of CETPs using the ZLD system entails a series of steps that help in meeting the primary objectives. The initial step involves the collection of wastewater, which is gathered from member dyeing units through underground pipelines. The second step involves the pre-treatment and primary treatment of wastewater, which focuses on the removal of suspended solids and organic matter. Thereafter, wastewater undergoes further additional treatment in secondary and tertiary treatment processes to produce high-quality effluent. The treated effluent is then fed into the ZLD system, where it undergoes evaporation, crystallisation or other processes to achieve zero wastewater discharge. The final step is residual management, which essentially involves managing the three types of sludge generated during the effluent treatment process: chemical sludge, bio-sludge and mixed waste salt. Chemical sludge is directed to cement factories for co-processing as a raw material for cement production, whereas bio-sludge is sent to cement factories to be used as fuel. The final reject, mixed waste salt, is stored in sheds on the CETP's premises, as no proper disposal method has been identified so far. In chart: Multiple stages of converting unusable dark colour effluent to usable pure water. As per the association, the accumulated mixed waste salt in CETPs at Tiruppur exceeds 100,000 tonnes. 'Currently, we don't have the technology for this salt, so we pile up huge amounts of salt…[disposal] technology is yet to evolve. Many research organisations are working on that, and we are even looking at possible solutions that can be helpful,' Kalidas states. In addition to water conservation, dyers in Tiruppur are also engaged in the recycling of effluent salt. This minimises the amount of salt discharged into the environment and decreases the demand for fresh salt, resulting in cost savings and reduced environmental impact. 'The ZLD process recovers valuable salts from wastewater, transforming what would be waste into beneficial resources, illustrating a circular economy in action,' explains DAT. DAT claims that it saves 1/4th of the salt consumed by the Indian population every day through this process. '1,000 tonnes of salt is the approximate quantity of salt consumed by the entire Indian population, and we are saving 1/4th or 20% of this every day,' DAT states. Challenges and bottlenecks At the core of these sustainability initiatives, however, lies a different narrative—Tiruppur's struggle to stay afloat, given the high operating costs. 'The main problem is that we are consuming a huge amount of power to treat the effluent water. All the 18 CETPs, together, are spending around Rs 30 crore every month only on electricity,' informs Kalidas. To put it in perspective, the monthly energy consumption of only these 18 CETPs is approximately 10 million units, which includes wastewater treatment but not fabric colouring or other processes. The Tiruppur cluster currently has a green energy capacity of 1,950 MW, including 1,600 MW from wind and 350 MW from solar energy, but it is much lower than the total energy requirement. Dyers' units in Tiruppur, especially CETPs and IETPs, are planning to invest in renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind power, to reduce their dependence on non-renewable energy sources. However, investment is a challenge for these struggling units. 'We want a one-time subsidy for solar and wind power projects from the government, which we have been asking for a long time,' Kalidas says, while expressing his disappointment. The cluster has also been taking measures in energy by way of changing machineries, implementing best practices and investing in renewable energy. Additionally, it is spending a huge amount on imported coal as thermal energy is used to operate the water. They are looking for technology that can reduce costs or installation of a co-generation plant, which can help achieve the same goal. 'Without such incentives, we cannot be competitive or even survive. Previously, 800 dyeing units used to exist in Tiruppur; these have now narrowed down to 400. Tomorrow it will be 200 units, and 10 years on, only 100 will exist since there is no level playing field for us,' says Kalidas. Without holding back, he asserts, 'We are not asking for profit, only for our survival.' Experts say that research and development are crucial to help the Tiruppur cluster grow, making processes more efficient, lowering costs, and improving the sustainability of CETPs with ZLD systems. ET Online The CETPs and IETPs at Tiruppur also recover 92% of pure water for reuse in processing through the ZLD technology. (pic courtesy: Neha Dewan) Kanishk Maheshwari, Co-founder & MD, Primus Partners, says that the integration of solar power plants presents an additional opportunity for the textile hub, which supports clean energy adoption, lower carbon emissions, and reducing long-term energy costs for the industry. As part of additional measures, he suggests drawing from countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands, which implement digital traceability systems using blockchain technology. 'This would allow brands and consumers to track the entire lifecycle of a garment—from raw material sourcing to final production—enhancing accountability, promoting ethical sourcing and opening access to sustainability-conscious global markets,' he adds. A Global Model? Tiruppur's integrated approach to sustainability—including water conservation, renewable energy, circular economy practices, and stakeholder collaboration—has made it a global model for sustainable industrial growth, as per Maheshwari. 'The textile hub's evolving sustainability journey reflects a broader shift in how the textile sector can balance industrial growth with environmental responsibility,' he says. The government has also acknowledged the crucial role played by Tiruppur, as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal noted at an event that 75 textile hubs similar to Tiruppur should be established. These hubs would support textile product exports, ensure the inclusion of sustainable technology, and generate huge opportunities for employment. Considering Tiruppur's strong reputation for its commitment to sustainable practices, experts advise advancing and empowering the cluster to intensify its efforts further. The government support and guidance can significantly contribute to the cluster's success as a global textile hub while also setting a precedent for others to follow with élan.

Ludhiana: Waste treatment plants face hefty fines amid violations
Ludhiana: Waste treatment plants face hefty fines amid violations

Hindustan Times

time13-06-2025

  • Hindustan Times

Ludhiana: Waste treatment plants face hefty fines amid violations

Even as the state and central government have pumped in crores of rupees for the construction of sewage and effluent treatment infrastructure in Ludhiana, these facilities have come under serious scrutiny for repeated environmental violations. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has slapped environmental compensation (EC) running into crores on various common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), effluent treatment plants (ETPs), and sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the city for failing to comply with environmental norms in the past few years. In several orders issued over the past few years, the PPCB has pointed to a consistent failure in plant operations, ranging from non-functioning equipment to untreated discharge being released into natural drains. While the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC), in its defence, has submitted that it completed the construction of several STPs and handed them over to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the penalties continue to be imposed due to lapses during operational control and maintenance periods. According to officials, these violations indicate serious negligence on the part of the civic body and related departments. While crores have been spent on the construction of these plants, environmental compensation of almost equal magnitude has been levied — reflecting systemic issues in their operation and monitoring. Among the biggest violators is the CETP at Bahadur Ke. In a series of five different EC orders issued between October 2022 and January 2025, a total penalty of nearly ₹10 crore has been imposed. Similarly, the 50 MLD CETP near the Central Jail on Tajpur Road has faced six EC orders in just four months between September 2024 and January 2025, with fines totalling over ₹5 crore. The 40 MLD CETP at Focal Point was hit with a ₹2.96 crore penalty this March. Meanwhile, STPs at Balloke and Bhattian have also faced fines ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹68 lakh each. Environmental compensation has also been imposed due to the non-installation of CETPs for dairy complexes, with the PPCB issuing a ₹3.6 crore penalty in March 2023. Environmental experts have raised concerns about the mounting penalties, warning that unless strict accountability and timely corrective measures are implemented, the city will continue to face both ecological damage and financial loss. The situation reflects a dual failure- massive investments made into the infrastructure on one hand, and a string of costly environmental penalties on the other. With EC orders continuing, the civic body is now under pressure to not only fix the operational gaps but also ensure that environmental safeguards are genuinely implemented on ground. PPCB chief RK Rattra said, 'The EC has been imposed by the PPCB during past few years and regular action is also being taken against offenders. Few of the compensations have been deposited but rest remain yet to be submitted by the departments and CETPs.' Rajya Sabha MP, Balbir Singh Seechewal said, 'The 2.25 MLD ETP, which was made few years ago on Tajpur Road at the cost of ₹9 crore but EC imposed on this plant is more than ₹3 crore which is a sheer wastage and pressure on common people as this is taxpayers' money. I request the MC officials and other departments to dispose of the cow dung at Tajpur Road dairy complex area so that the ETP can run properly and cow dung is not released into the Buddha Nullah.'

Ludhiana: ₹1.1k-cr project planned to tackle Buddha Nullah groundwater crisis
Ludhiana: ₹1.1k-cr project planned to tackle Buddha Nullah groundwater crisis

Hindustan Times

time26-05-2025

  • Business
  • Hindustan Times

Ludhiana: ₹1.1k-cr project planned to tackle Buddha Nullah groundwater crisis

In a significant move to combat Punjab's severe groundwater depletion and rejuvenate the polluted Buddha Nullah, the soil conservation department has unveiled a ₹1,050-crore proposal to repurpose treated wastewater for agriculture and forestry. This initiative, inspired by recommendations from the vidhan sabha committee on Buddha Nullah and Ghaggar river, aims to lessen the strain on groundwater and mitigate environmental pollution. Nidhi Batta, divisional soil conservation officer, confirmed the detailed plan for transporting and reusing treated water from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the Lower Buddha Nullah for irrigation. Punjab, an agrarian state, faces alarming declines in groundwater levels and quality, with existing water conservation efforts proving insufficient. The government now seeks to utilize vast quantities of municipal wastewater, often discharged untreated, as a valuable resource. Reusing treated water can fulfill irrigation needs, generate revenue for maintenance, and significantly reduce pollution. Phased implementation for domestic and dairy waste water The proposal's primary component, 'Proposal A,' focuses on reusing 555 MLD (million litres per day) of domestic and dairy wastewater through a four-stage, ₹1,051.36-crore plan. Stage I involves using treated water from Sahnewal (7 MLD) and Jamalpur (25 MLD) STPs to irrigate 400 and 1,500 acres of farmland, respectively, costing ₹4.33 crore and ₹10.90 crore. Stage II, costing ₹276.30 crore, will see a major infrastructure upgrade to transport 206 MLD from Jamalpur STP to Balloke STP via a 14.5-km HDPE pipeline. Stage III, at ₹459.14 crore, entails moving 523 MLD from Balloke STP to Walipur village through a 17-km underground pipeline connecting to Lower Buddha Nullah. Finally, Stage IV, costing ₹300.69 crore, will establish 22 lift irrigation ponds along Lower Buddha Nullah to utilize treated water, aiding its revival and reducing pollution. Industrial wastewater and key challenges 'Proposal B' addresses the reuse of 165 MLD of industrial wastewater, estimated at ₹103.25 crore. Treated effluents from existing and proposed Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) will be transported for reuse across 2,300 acres of forest land in the Mattewara region. The combined cost of both proposals totals ₹1,154.61 crore. A significant challenge lies in the separate collection of domestic, dairy, and industrial wastewater, as illegal discharge of industrial effluents into domestic sewers disrupts treatment. Managing dairy waste, rich in solids, also requires attention, with a need for Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA). Officials stress that the project's success hinges on the active support of all stakeholder departments, emphasizing that proper infrastructure and treatment are crucial to realizing the full benefits of this substantial investment. The reuse of treated water is envisioned as a sustainable solution to Punjab's water crisis, reducing reliance on borewells and restoring Buddha Nullah's ecological balance.

2 minors drown at Seechewal event; activists seek FIR
2 minors drown at Seechewal event; activists seek FIR

Indian Express

time13-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Indian Express

2 minors drown at Seechewal event; activists seek FIR

A day after two minor boys drowned in Buddha Nullah on Tajpur road in Ludhiana during a religious event organised by AAP Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, city environmentalists and activists demanded an FIR and a thorough probe into the incident, questioning how 'ghats could be allowed on the banks of a polluted stream without any safety checks'. Seechewal has been doing 'sewa' by cleaning the polluted Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana for the past few months. At the ghat where the incident took place, he had organised 'ardaas' (prayer gathering) on Sunday and had invited people to participate in the event. He had posted the invitation on his official Facebook page, reading that the event was organised to pray for 'Sarbat da bhala' (wellbeing of all) and 'vishav vich sukh shaanti' (world peace). He claimed in the invite that the Buddha Nullah water was 'comparatively clean' near the Central Jail on Tajpur road where the event was organised. The families of both minors — Abhay Kumar, 15, and Gurjeet Singh, 13 — who drowned on Sunday, alleged that organisers had made no safety arrangements, while the organisers claimed that the children were repeatedly warned 'not to go towards the side where water was deep'. Demanding an FIR and a thorough probe into the incident, activists and environmentalists under the umbrella of the Public Action Committee (PAC), in a statement questioned that 'how such ghats were allowed to open at first place, and that too in the polluted waters of Buddha Nullah laden with industrial chemicals and effluents'. PAC member Kuldeep Singh Khaira said, 'The drowning incident needs a very quick and high-level investigation after registration of an FIR under appropriate sections of the BNS.' 'In the first place, how were such ghats allowed next to the outlets of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) by the government, and which officials gave permission? What was the need for such ghats when the primary demand was to stop industrial effluents? Which officer did the safety audits of these ghats? Why has no FIR so far been registered? Where is accountability? Will anyone be held responsible for the two deaths?' questioned Jaskirat Singh, another PAC member. The PAC has been alleging that Seechewal is using 'unscientific methods' to clean the Buddha Nullah laden with industrial effluents and chemicals from industries, and questioned how poisonous chemicals can be removed from the stream by doing a 'kar sewa'? Kapil Dev, an engineer and a PAC member, said, 'These ghats should be named 'Akal Di Ghat' (lack of wisdom) and 'Sharam Di Ghat' (lack of shame) as they were not for any productive purpose or cleaning of the stream but simply due to a tearing hurry of the government and Baba Seechewal to take credit before cleaning the stream. On the one hand, the government is not following NGT orders despite multiple reminders to stop illegal CETPs, while on the other, they are in such a hurry to create ghats which have nothing to do with cleaning of the river.' Seechewal, meanwhile, expressed his 'sadness' over the incident and said, 'The event was organised to celebrate the 'ceasefire' between India and Pakistan. What happened was truly unfortunate. People were asked not to go to the side where the nullah was deep, but they still went despite this. Inspector Bhupinder Singh at the Division Number 7 police station said no FIR had been registered so far into the incident. 'We have filed inquest proceedings as it was a tragedy,' he said.

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