Saturday, December 7, 2013

TN has 3,000 highly polluting red category industries


C Shivakumar
Chennai:
There are over 3000 highly polluting red category industries
in Tamil Nadu releasing over six lakh litres of effluent per day, according to an official report.

The report, which is yet to be released, states that in the coastal area of Tamil Nadu 488.02 million litres per day of wastewater is generated and only 226 of MLD is treated.

The report states that tanneries located in Vellore, Dindigul, and Erode districts have affected the river basins. The textile units in Tiruppur, Erode, and Karur, have contaminated the Noyyal, Amaravathy and other waterbodies. River basins like Palar,
Tamiraparani, Cauvery, Noyyal, Bhavani and Amaravathy face serious pollution problems due to sewage.

The report states that there are 2771 hazardous waste generating industries in Tamil Nadu generating total of 4.26 lakh tonnes per year of hazardous wastes.

It states that in urban areas of Tamil Nadu there are five main industrial complexes which have become environmental hotspots. These include Manali/Ennore, Ranipet, Cuddalore, Mettur and Tuticorin which have chemical, petrochemical and other industries.

The report also states that the quantum of vehicular pollutants emitted is highest in Chennai followed by Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, Trichy and Tirunelveli. Carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrocarbons (HC) account for 64 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively of the total emission load due to vehicles.

Interestingly, the study states that in Chennai, the annual average of respirable suspended particulate matter(RSPM) levels (The suspended particles in the air that is 10 micrometers or less) in most of the stations has been between 62-138 micrograms per metre cube (Ug/m3) during the period 2000-2011, whereas the prescribed standard (annual average) is 60 Ug/m3.

In Trichy, in traffic locations, the range of annual average of RSPM has been 72-137 Ug/m3 during 2005-2012. Similar is the case in other cities also, the report adds.

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