Dyeing units in Tirupur apparel cluster are all set to sign agreements with three cement manufacturing companies in an effort to dispose of the entire sludge generated during the effluent treatment process.
“The sludge coming out during the dyeing effluent treatment is a good raw material for manufacturing cement,” Dyers Association of Tirupur (DAT) president S. Nagarajan told reporters here.
As a prelude to signing the memorandum of understanding with three cement companies identified for the trade, DAT had sent a proposal seeking the formal approval from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for disposing of the sludge generated to the cement companies.
Apart from this, DAT would also be popularising the setting up of machinery to extract sodium sulphate from the concentrated mixed salt solution coming out during the effluent treatment process.
Reuse
“The sodium sulphate extracted can thus be sent back to dyeing units for reuse. A project set up on a pilot basis to extract sodium sulphate has given good results,” Mr. Nagarajan said.
Regarding the high levels of Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) levels seen sometimes along the River Noyyal stretch in Tirupur, Mr. Nagarajan said it was not due to any industrial activity in Tirupur, rather the water coming from the upstream in Coimbatore itself contains high TDS. “That happens because of the salty nature of the soil in the upstream areas,” he added.
On the detection of extremely high TDS level in a stream lying adjacent to one Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and subsequent issuance of notice by TNPCB officials to that plant, Mr. Nagarajan said the people who caused the pollution had to be traced.
Complaint box
“We have put up a complaint box at the DAT office so that people can give leads to us about the pollution cases and the matter will be taken up with the authorities. As of now, dyeing units are now following zero liquid discharge,” he added.
