CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday came to the rescue of around 900 small and marginal dyeing and bleaching units in four districts -- Namakkal, Erode, Salem and Karur -- which face problems from environmental issues and court directives, with a massive project to be implemented at a cost of Rs 700 crore. The measure will provide direct employment to 10,000 persons and indirect employment opportunities to one lakh persons. Besides, the measure will augment the domestic production of handlooms and textiles to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore while containing the pollution caused by these units.
Stating that her government’s objective was to ensure economic development while implementing necessary restrictions, the Chief Minister said assistance would be offered to the small and marginal dyeing units to shift their working place to a common dyeing complex at a cost of Rs 700 crore. Steps would be taken to receive necessary funding from the various departments of the Central government for this project and the State government would contribute the rest.
Making a suo motu statement in the State Assembly under Rule 110, the Chief Minister said, while the larger and medium sized dyeing units had set up 18 common effluent treatment plants with the State government’s financial assistance, the small and marginal units were unable to do so and hence the effluents released by them had been flowing into the rivers of Cauvery, Bhavani and Amaravathi and other water bodies, thus affecting the environment. As a result, a majority of these units were able to continue their job leading to economic loss to the textile industry.
The Rs 700 crore project would be commenced during the current financial year and would be completed within three years, the Chief Minister said, and added that it would be executed jointly by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation, Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited and the Handlooms and Textiles Department.