Subsequent to the recent fire accident at a unit that makes polyester staple fibre from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles at Siddhampalam near Palladam, a group of people had stepped up agitations against the unit alleging continued violation of pollution control norms.
On Monday, residents of almost 10 hamlets near Palladam came to the Collectorate wearing masks to petition Collector S. Jayandhi seeking an inquiry not only into the fire accident that caused pollution, but also on the disposal of waste water from the unit.
“The waste water has been causing groundwater pollution for the past many years and also odour from the unit has caused health problems to residents in and around Siddhampalam,” alleged A. Rajendran, one of the petitioners.
Unit owner S. Krishnakumar denied the allegations and stated that pollution control norms were adhered to by the unit.
“The only waste water that gets generated in the unit was the one coming after washing the used/waste PET bottles that were brought for making the polyester staple fibre.
“Even though it contains only dirt, the water used for washing is treated at the Effluent Treatment Plant erected on the 100 acre premises of the unit and used for irrigating coconut and fodder raised on the campus itself. The fodder raised in that manner was used for feeding around 70 cows and 100 goats reared on the premises,” he clarified.
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board District Environmental Engineer (Tirupur South) R. Mathivanan told The Hindu that the unit had consent to operate till 2018.
“However, the concerns raised by people will be looked into,” he said.
