Residents of Ganga Nagar at Poyampalayam in Corporation Ward 30 hoisted black flags atop their houses on Friday alleging that a common effluent treatment plant(CETP) situated in their locality, to treat effluents generated from various dyeing units, had been causing pollution.
“Despite our repeated representations to the district administration, civic body representatives and officials of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, no constructive action has been taken to end the noise, dust and liquid pollution from the plant,” A. Arun Kumar, a tailor residing in Ganga Nagar, said.
Water pollutionS. Meera, another resident, showed the yellow-coloured water drawn from the borewells in the area. People in the locality also complained of noise emitted during the operation of the plant in the night hours and emission of suspended particles that cause breathing problems. “Foul smell of chemicals is also unbearable,” they said.
WarningTNPCB District Environmental Engineer (Tirupur North) M. Malayandi told The Hindu that the Board officials had noticed certain defects in the said CETP, which has three member dyeing units affiliated, a couple of months back and issued directives to rectify the same.
“We have asked the CETP operators to install mechanical dust collector. But the said appliance did not give desired result. The plant has been asked now to go for wet scrubber to stop suspended particles emission,” he said.
Regarding the foul smell from the plant, Mr. Malayandi said that the Board had already asked the dyeing units to bring down the temperature of the effluents generated at the respective units itself before sending the same to the CETP and also to erect wind barriers.
“These steps will help remove the odour caused by the volatile organic compounds,” he said.
