Polluting textile units in the district seem to have identified Mamarathupalayam as the new dumping ground for the sludge they generate.
So far, their favourite spot for dumping used to be Pitchaikkaranpallam Odai. Bags containing sludge generated by dyeing, bleaching, printing and tanning units have been causing foul smell, much to the consternation of residents in the surroundings.
They have chosen the new spot fearing rigid monitoring of Soolai area by Pollution Control Board officials.
In recent months, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board seemingly acted tough on authorised dyeing, bleaching and printing industries that were found wanting in operating the effluent treatment system.
Power connection to the polluting units at Rasampalayam, Karuvilparaivalasu, Naripallam, and Vendipalayam was withdrawn on the advice of TNPCB.
But, the pollution control board officials have no fool-proof mechanism to ensure compliance of all industries to ZLD (Zero Liquid Discharge) norms.
They do act when there is information, but unethical effluent and sludge disposal continues to takes place without their knowledge.
The industrial units do not discard the sludge at Gummidipoondi dump site because of the huge costs involved.
According to officials, the long-term solution was within sight for sludge disposal as cement industries have started utilising the sludge as a component. But, the extent of sourcing was low.
Effective utilisation of sludge could be made possible only if cement units are given targets to source the solid waste from the industries, representatives of textile sector say.
