Textiles Ministry terms proposed effluent norms as 'stringent'

Raising serious concerns over an Environment Ministry's proposal to mandate virtually all the textile units to reduce their effluent discharge to zero, the Textiles Ministry has asked to review the proposal as it could lead to closure of many units.

In a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Textiles Secretary S K Panda has said the proposed standards are "too stringent" and it would make the zero liquid discharge commercially non-viable.

The secretary also said insisting on zero liquid discharge standards will lead to closure of the industry and due to that people may lose their jobs.

The proposed standards seek to lay down zero liquid discharge for textile processing units where water discharge is greater than 25 KLD (kilolitres per day).

The Textiles Ministry has argued the domestic processing industry is largely unorganised and consists of small and medium units.

The proposed norms are stringent in terms of capital investment and it would also have high recurring expenditure.

The domestic industry has already raised their concerns on the move. They have requested to review the proposed environmental standards.

Speaking on the issue, the outgoing secretary Panda today said the norms could be implemented in a phased manner.

The Textiles Ministry has held several meetings with the industry representatives, textile research associations and Indian Institute of Technology on the issue.

A committee has already been formed for studying the existing technologies of effluent treatment, he told reporters here.

He said, in the short-term best available technology can be introduced and for the long-term R&D would be pursued for developing cleaner and more cost effective options.

Further, the secretary said that India's share in global apparel and garment industry is only 3.8 per cent and efforts should be put to increase this.

On cotton exports, he said there is a need to improve the productivity quality of the natural fibre and look beyond China for shipments. China is the largest export destination.

China's stock levels have reached over 8,000 million kg and due to this they are importing less from India, which is leading to a dip in domestic prices.

Further he suggested that tax holidays would help in setting up textiles parks.