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As the countdown for the closure of dyeing units in Tirupur starts with the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation disconnecting power to the dyeing units from Wednesday in the wake of the High Court order to close the units for alleged violation of pollution control rules, a sense of nervousness has gripped Tirupur, the hosiery capital of the South.
At stake is not only the future of the hosiery and garment industry with export and domestic sales turnover of about Rs 16,000 crore, but also the livelihood of about 5 lakh workers employed in various related industries.
The pollution problem caused by the dyeing units has been defying a permanent solution, though several proposals have been mooted to deal with it. A delegation from Tirupur is seeking a meeting with the representatives of the Tamil Nadu Government in an effort to find a remedy. In an interview to Business Line , Mr A. Sakthivel, President, Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA), shares his thoughts on the issue and what the industry expects from the Government to find an amicable solution. Excerpts.
The High Court of Madras has asked all dyeing units to be closed. How many will be covered by the order (media reports put it as 739)? Are there any units that have met the zero-discharge norm and hence could be exempted?
The Madras High Court has issued directions that all the Common Effluent Treatment Plants and Integrated Effluent Treatment Plants, bleaching and dyeing units in Tirupur area will be closed forthwith by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the electricity supply will be disconnected. The total number of units is about 700.
In the immediate future, how do you expect the user industries to face the situation? Do they have the option of having the dyeing and bleaching work done elsewhere? Will that add to the cost?
It is really difficult to face the situation and as such, the garment manufacturers may approach the dyeing units in Perundurai, Bhavani and Erode belt for doing the dyeing work and these units may partially fulfil the need. But it will add to the cost of dyeing activities.
How many workers in the dyeing units would be affected by the court order?
About 55,000 workers in the dyeing units get affected.
This problem has been festering for years. What were the dyeing units doing since 2006 when the court had issued orders not to permit the dyeing units to function unless they meet the zero-discharge norm?
The dyeing units have spent Rs 1,200 crore for creating CETPs with the good intension only to achieve zero liquid discharge. But unfortunately, due to non-availability of technology, it was not possible for them to achieve zero liquid discharge. Besides, it was also verified all over the world and no technology is available to do the same. Therefore, zero liquid discharge is impossible.
On a daily basis, what would be the impact of the order on the economy of Tirupur based units — in different sectors in terms of business lost?
On a daily basis, if all the units in Tirupur are closed, then the loss would be about Rs 45 crore. The Union and State governments had announced a financial package for Tirupur to meet the effluent treatment need. What is the status of this plan?
The Central and State governments together announced Rs 320 crore and till date Rs 35 crore has been disbursed to CETPs.
What does the industry want from the governments to find a permanent solution to the effluent problem?
As zero liquid discharge is impossible, the only alternative solution available till the implementation of marine discharge project is to permit effluent treatment plants to discharge effluents with 2100 tds (total dissolved salt) as per norms prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board and which can be achieved by diluting with water purchased from NTADCL.
Central Pollution Control Board will also be invited for all the further proceedings with the help of Tamil Nadu Government.
The Tamil Nadu Government will be requested to expedite the implementation of Marine Discharge Project, which is already in the process and 13 th Finance Commission has allocated Rs 200 crore also.
Tamil Nadu Government can form a tripartite committee consisting of industry, farmers and government officials and the committee can give an assurance to the farmers about the discharge of effluent with 2100 tds and expect that there would not be any problem for carrying out the cultivation. This will also help to improve the groundwater level.
The Government will be requested to file an affidavit in High Court stating about the agreement entered with farmers and court can also be requested to permit to discharge of effluent with 2100 tds till implementation of Marine Discharge Project.
For how many days can user industries function with the raw material stock in Tirupur before the closure of dyeing and bleaching units lead to the closure of other units — hosiery, garment manufacturing units — as well?
May be for about a week or 10 days. They can try to have the dyeing work done in Perundurai, Bhavani and Erode dyeing units. But they cannot meet the entire requirement of Tirupur units and the additional cost incurred would be substantial.
This cannot be a permanent solution considering the cost, the need for fulfilling the export and domestic order commitments, the need to ensure quality and so on.
It is imperative that an amicable solution is found to have the dyeing and bleaching works done at Tirupur itself.
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