Coir pith industries get pollutingtag, come under strict norms

Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has shifted coir pith units to orange from the white category, forcing the units to follow stricter pollution control norms to curb water and air pollution.
Industries are colour-coded - red, orange, green and white - based on their pollution emission levels, with white being the least polluting category.
The order to bring the units under orange category was issued on Wednesday. The units should use only closed shed and impervious platform to store, process and clean pith to avoid polluting groundwater. Sun drying cannot be done directly on land and instead, cement platforms should be used. Mechanical drying options should be explored. Wastewater generated from the units should be recycled using effluent treatment plants to meet the quality prescribed by the board. The treated water should be recycled. To mitigate dust emission, the unit should install windnet arrestors along the boundary. Green belt should be set up to control dust emission. The units should adhere to the ambient air quality/emission standards prescribed by the board.
While environmentalists and farmers owning lands adjacent to coir pith units welcomed the decision, it did not go well with the owners of the units. “The decision will also affect coconut farmers, who get Rs 2 to Rs 2.50 for every coconut husk. If the industry doesn’t do well, the farmers stand losing the income,” owner of a unit said.
Malaipalayam-based farmer A Thiyagarajan welcomed the order. “It was a long-pending demand. We thank the chief minister and environment minister who solved the issue for the benefit of farmers,” he said.
Coir Board member S K Gowthaman said that coir pith industries cannot survive if strict regulations are implemented. He appealed to the CM not to implement the guidelines. “The regulations will affect industries in Tamil Nadu and benefit industries in neighbouring states,” he added.
There are over 7,000 coir pith units in the state and 2,000 in Coimbatore, thanks to widespread coconut cultivation.