Residents surrounding Perundurai SIPCOT Industrial Estate allege that industries in the complex are not complying with the established norms for effluent disposal.
They fear that the groundwater has been polluted due to “misuse” of the rainwater harvesting structures, made compulsory by the Government, to let effluent inside the ground.
C. Sivakumar, president of Paniampalli panchayat, one of the several villages outside the industrial complex said letting of effluent into the ground is the reason for water gushing out at a depth of a few feet close to the complex. Citing an instance of water pumped out earlier this year by an industrial unit that was undertaking construction works, Mr. Sivakumar said the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) count exceeded 8,000 PPM (parts per million). The problem has been conveyed to Pollution Control Board officials, he said.
Official sources said there was no scope for percolation of effluent into the ground.
Several units that have not complied with the ZLD (Zero Liquid Discharge) norms were being closed. Recycling of water was being closely monitored, Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Perundurai, Udayakumar, told The Hindu .
Colour change
He, however, admitted colour change in water in some of the wells outside the complex. There were minor issues that could be addressed, he said. Against the daily usage of 300 lakh litres of water by dyeing, tanning, textile, and other industries in the complex, the daily usage from SIPCOT was only 45 to 50 lakh litres.
The rest of the water was being recycled and reused, Mr. Udayakumar said.
Likewise, sludge has been removed substantially. Over the last six months, 18,000 tonnes of sludge were diverted to cement industries, and 7,000 tonnes to Gummudipoondi waste landfill site. The remaining 8,000 tonnes would also be disposed soon, he said.
TNPCB official says there is no scope for percolation of effluent into the ground
