The dyers in Salem met Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam on Tuesday and sought his co-operation in getting the clearance from concerned departments to supply raw water to the proposed Rs. 300-crore Salem Dyeing Park, coming up near Mecheri near here.

The representatives of the industry told him about the problems in the wake of the closure of 152 dyeing units in Salem for pollution problems following High Court orders. The move had, in fact, prompted them to go for an integrated park with Common Effluent Plant for which they sought the cooperation of the Minister following which he summoned the coordinated meeting of officials from Public Works Department (PWD), Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

The officials told the Minister that PWD’s Irrigation Section had to grant permission to draw water from a near-by river based on which TWAD Board could lay the pipeline and supply 2.50 MLD of water per day to the proposed park. The Minister asked the industry’s representatives to apply through proper channels so that he could later co-ordinate with the officials concerned for getting the clearance. He also told them to abide strictly the pollution norms.

Later, he told the media that the dyers had been told to finalise their plans about the Park before going for other benefits. “Now, they have come forward to adhere to pollution norms. We also can extend help,” he pointed out.

Source: The Hindu