Ms Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister released a statement on 28 July 2011. According to the statement, there are 754 dyeing and bleaching units in Tirupur area. Among them, There are 20 common effluent treatment plants catering to the 502 garment units and the rest 252 units have their own effluent treatment plants separately for each.Around 87,250 kilo liter effluents are being discharged into the Noyyal river everyday.
In the statement, Ms Jayalalithaa has pointed out that the Noyyal river irrigated farmers association, in 1996 filed a petition in the Madras High Court to stop the discharge of effluents from the dyeing and bleaching units of Tirupur as it polluted the farmlands and the water bodies of Noyyal river.In 1998, the high court ordered that the units should form their own effluent treatment plants.But the Noyyal river irrigated farmers protection society in 2003,once again moved a public interest litigation in the high court as the farmlands and the river were still affected by the effluents despite the units constructing separate treatment plants.Following this, the high court in its verdict in 2006, said that the units should attain zero liquid discharge before 31st of july 2007 and those units which fail to do so, would be closed.The Dyeing units owners association got a stay order for this from the apex court.
The apex court in october 2009, in its verdict confirmed the order of the High court and said that the dyeing units should attain zero liquid discharge within 3 months' time.But, since the dyeing units could not attain the zero liquid discharge within the said period, the contempt of court proceedings took place and 754 dyeing and bleaching units were closed from 1st of february 2011,according to the order of the Madras high court on 28th of January 2011.
Also, on the basis of the verdict of the Madras High court in 2006, for the compensation to the farmers and to clean the Orathupalayam dam a fine of 49 crore 29 lakh rupees was levied. In that amount, 37 crore 11 lakh rupees has already been collected out of which 6 crore 77 lakh rupees has been given to the PWD to clean the Orathupalaym dam. The Balance, 11 crore 96 lakh rupees has been given as reparation amount to 17 thousand 758 farmers. The remaining 18 crore 38 lakh rupees had still not been paid to the 10 thousand 838 farmers.Only after receiving the high court verdict, this amount could be disbursed. But considering the welfare of the farmers, TN Government had he 18 crore 38 lakh rupees be given by the Government itself immediately.
This apart, as per the orders of the Madras high Court, the amount of 62 crore 37 lakh rupees has been collected as fine and the interest accruing to it, it stands at 67 crore rupees. Of this 25 crore rupees is with the High court and 42 crore rupees is with the district collector. This amount after receiving the high court order, would be given to the farmers as compensation and for developing the affected farmlands and the water bodies.
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