“The existing Sludge Drying Beds were found sick and effluent was found to be stagnated in the beds,” said an inspection report of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in May 2014 on the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Ranipet SIDCO.
The report noted that there were no safety provisions for use in case of any emergency. Further, the CETP had not carried out proper operation and maintenance of primary and secondary treatment of trade effluent, which would drastically affect the performance and reverse osmosis treatment, it said. As a result, the goal of zero liquid discharge was unlikely to be achieved.
In an affidavit in the Supreme Court, based on a court direction, the TNPCB gave an account of its inspection of eight CETPs and 26 IETPs (Individual Effluent Treatment Plant) in August 2014. It said, “There was no discharge of effluent into the Palar river.” In respect of the Ranipet SIDCO Finished Leather Effluent Treatment Company, where the accident occurred, it had noted that “the construction of additional SLF (secure landfill) of about 3,500 tonnes capacity is in progress.”
The inspection reports seemed to blame the local bodies for not treating sewage and thereby contributing to the pollution of the Palar. This claim evoked sharp response from the municipalities of Ambur, Vaniyambadi and Pernambut, besides Arcot.
TNPCB chairman K. Skandan said the inspections reports were indeed factual as pollution levels were lower along the CETP belt when compared to the pre-CETP period.
Meanwhile, the CETP management claimed it had adhered to all norms. It had built a second secure landfill of nearly 1000 cubic metres capacity without applying for permission, an official said.
However, sources in the management said: “the SLF design was given by the Chennai Environmental Management Company of Tannes (CEMCOT). “We have gone by CEMCOT’s design and system. We cannot move a brick here without the TNPCB’s approval,” a member said.
( Additional reporting by Serena Josephine M .)
