Textile Bleaching Units Flout ZLD Norms in TN: Anaipalayan Farmers

Trade & Policy

Textile Bleaching Units Flout ZLD Norms in TN: Anaipalayan Farmers

Zero Liquid Discharge norms have proved to be an anathema to a group of industrialists in Tamil Nadu as the local district farmers of Anaipalayam are now combating a legal battle against four polluting textile units in the area.

The trouble set in when a group of farmers petitioned the district administration of the township against bleaching units that are located on the banks of the Noyyal river. These units according to the farmer's version releases industrial effluents into the river and its canals.

The farmers have contended that they want to save the river and save the local irrigation tank from undesirable pollution. They have requested the local authorities to stem the violation of Zero Liquid Discharge norms and take action against the said bleaching units. The farmers further disclosed that agriculture that takes place on 600 acres of land is dependent on the water that comes from the tank.

Farmers bore eyewitness accounts stating that they have seen four bleaching units releasing untreated water into the open land which then flows into the river and subsequently into the main canal of the Anaipalayam tank. They also said that when the industrial unit owners were confronted with the violation issue they threatened the farmers with dire consequences.

The farmers added that with assistance from the Public Works Department, the farmers have undertaken the work of desilting the canal and strengthening the bunds. “However, the four bleaching units continue to violate environmental norms in our agricultural zone,” they concluded.