The Hindu : Front Page : Court orders closure of Tirupur units

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Friday, Jul 15, 2005

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Court orders closure of Tirupur units

Special Correspondent

Failure to install reverse osmosis plants

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday ordered the immediate closure of 660 dyeing and bleaching units in Tirupur after the unit owners failed to furnish proof of steps taken to install reverse osmosis plants.

"It is unfortunate that in spite of opportunities given by this court, all the units have not availed themselves of the opportunities by paying 25 per cent of the total cost towards advance [to reverse osmosis plant manufacturers]. ... It is agonising to see that all the orders passed by this court have been periodically disobeyed," observed a Division Bench comprising Justice M. Karpagavinayagam and Justice C. Nagappan.

The Bench said, "Unless the zero discharge is achieved, removal of sludge [accumulated in the Orathapalayam dam] cannot be done."

`Show proof of payment'

During the last hearing, it directed the units to show proof of payment of at least 25 per cent of the total plant cost as advance to the manufacturers. When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, the Advocate-General N.R. Chandran said that out of 690 units only 30 satisfied the norms.

Taking serious view of the failure, the judges said, "There is no other go but to direct the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to see to it that all these units are closed with immediate effect, and suitable directions are given to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to disconnect power supply to these units for the time being." The matter was posted to July 21.

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