Vision (Agenda) :-

1. Installation of a pipeline infrastructure from Tirupur, connecting Vellakovil, Karur and upto the Sea.

1. Tirupur has around 720 Dyeing and bleaching units, 150 Compacting units and around 100 steam calendaring units.
    
2. The quantity of effluent generation from these units is estimated to be around 100 Mld. (Million liters per day).

 A common Effluent Treatment plant with piles of solid waste

1. The reason for this is the RO membranes which are imported from US and Canada, are very expensive and it requires to be changed in frequent intervals, disabling it as an effective waste water management for longer periods of time.
    
2. The industrial associations in Tirupur were suggesting a couple of alternatives to solve this problem.
    
3. The first solution is to adopt the RO system and pumping of the RO reject into the sea as per the norms prescribed by the Pollution Control Board.
    
4. This would require a pipeline running across the state right from Tirupur till the sea wherein only the dissolved salts and water are let into the sea wherein the salt content of the discharge would be quite less than that of the sea.
    
    
5. In this system, minimum 65% of the water and salts can be recovered, while the rest will directly flow into the sea.
   This system has been successfully adopted, implemented and results have been achieved in countries abroad.
   The next solution which the industrial associations suggests is that the Central Government should bring in alternative cost effective systems for effective Waste Water Management.
    
6. One such system that has already been identified is the CID – Catalytic Ionizing Diffusion, is a Russian Technology.
   However, the effectiveness of this system has to be established beyond any doubts on the efficiency of this system in wastewater management.
    
7. The industrial associations feels that the letting out of RO discharge into the sea is a viable, cost effective way of addressing the problem.  Keeping in mind, the associations have studied among various options, have finalized the feasibility of laying a pipeline for transporting the wastewater into the sea as a viable option for which the details are as follows:-
    
8. The pipeline which will carry the wastewater should run cutting across the state till the sea.  While deciding the alignment, some of the following factors has been taken into account.
    
9. The alignment should as far as possible be along the bund of the river/canal courses so as to avoid heavy cutting of State and National Highways.
    
10. The alignment should be preferably avoid dense cities and towns
     
11. The alignment should preferably avoid wet lands and cutting across irrigation distribution canals.
     
12. The point of disposal to the sea should preferably be in an uninhabited area along the sea coast to avoid disturbance to the normal livelihood of the fishermen.
     
13. Taking into account the above factors, the following alignments have been considered.
     
14. Tirupur-Tirchy-Lalgudi-Jayamkondan-Tirumullaivsal – 333 kms
     
15. Tirupur-Trichy-Thanjavur-Tiruvarur-Nagapattinam - 303 kms
     
16. Tirupur-Manaparai-Viralimalai-Manalmelakudi - 305 kms
     
17. Tirupur-Musiri-Trichy-Tiruvarur-Vellankudi-Coleroon- 300 kms

In general, all the alignments follow the downward gradient from Tirupur at an elevation of 293 m from sea level.

Benefits:-

1. The Implementation of this project would save nearly 6 lakh workers whose family and children depend on this industry for their livelihood.
    
2. Environmental pollution of Noyyal River and Orathupalayam Dam could be averted.
    
3. So far around 150,000 tonnes of sludge, classified as hazardous waste has been generated under the conventional schemes, further generation of hazardous waste could be drastically minimized.
    
4. Due to implementation of Cleaner Production technologies, our country will earn more export orders, thereby protecting present employment opportunity and supporting further economic growth.
    
5. Since Tirupur contributes to around 60% of knitted garments export of our country, strengthening its processing base will significantly enhance our capacity to potentially compete with China.
    
6. Sustained growth of textile knitwear sector is essential for the spinning, processing, printing, compacting, embroidery, garmenting and all other allied industries, all of which provide employment and shelter to several lakh families.
    
7. The completion of this project would play a vital role in the development of the overall textile industries in Tamil Nadu.

2. Finding a Viable Solution for Sludge Disposal Management.

1. Cotton fabrics have to be dyed using 'disperse dyes'.

2. These dyes leave solid particles on the fabric that cannot be dissolved by ordinary effluent treatment plants.

3. Everyday Tirupur accumulates 200 tonnes of solid waste. Solid waste stored in Tirupur

4. It takes a costly reverse osmosis and multiple evaporation process to completely eliminate the dye and re-cycle the water.

5. Tirupur today has huge volumes of solid waste, which are getting accumulated every day coming out of dyeing and processing units.

6. Currently, the larger and medium sized textile units in Tirupur are dumping the solid wastes by creating dumping yards within their own premises following the guidelines laid down by the PCB (Pollution Control Board).
   
   Solid waste stored in Tirupur.

7. The Chennai High Court has now slapped a Rs 400-crore fine on the Tirupur dyers.
    

8. Industry observers say that if the order is implemented, many small apparel manufacturers will go under.
    

9. For attaining adequate scale, it is goading smaller companies to form consortiums at every level of production.
    

10. The KnitcMa association in Tirupur, in an attempt for the development and upliftment of the general public and for the development of the industry on the whole, suggests a few viable solution to solve this problem.
     

11. The first solution is to follow the solid waste management program adopted by textile clusters in other parts of our country, especially in Ahmedabad and Surat.
    
    

12. In these two textile intensive cities, the government has encouraged the proposal of creating landfills for dumping these accumulated wastes.
     
13. The term land fills, indicates, a silo kind of a solid concrete structure being erected under ground, in public utility spaces like, parks, gardens, play grounds, etc which can cater to the huge requirements of space.
     
14. The pit will be closed tightly during rainy season to avoid water seepage into the land fill.
    Once when these structures created, the solid wastes are dumped tightly, and the landfill is closed with concrete structure.
     
15. A landscaping in terms of grass lawns, tennis and badminton courts, walk pathways, gardens, general play area, golf course, etc., is created on top of it for effective public usage.
     
16. The detailed information on this proposal of constructing of the Silo Concrete structures can be further had at www.cleanerproduction.org, The second solution though a lengthy and time consuming process, requests the government to initiate research activities to find alternative uses for the accumulated sludge without affecting the public, in areas like soda ash production, cement production, laying of roads, etc.
    
    

Benefits:-

1. The proposal of constructing a silo for landfills is a viable alternative for safely and effectively disposing the accumulated sludge.
2. This is proposal is quite environment friendly as no sludge could seep out of heavy concrete structure.
    
3. This proposal paves way for creation of newer spaces and up gradation of existing public utility spaces.

3. Creation of Road Infrastructure along the banks of River Noyyal

1. The Noyyal rises from the Vellingiri hills in the Western Ghats and covers a total area of 0.35 million ha, the basin is 180 km long and 125 m wide.
    
2. Cultivated land in the basin amounts to 0.18 million ha
    
3. During Northeast monsoon this 173-km long tributary of the Cauvery, can fill up 32 tanks.
    
4. The River Noyyal, runs all along Coimbatore, Somanur, Tirupur, Vellakovil and Karur before joining River Cauvery.
    
5. Incidentally, these five towns happen to be highly textile intensive clusters.
    
6. However, the roads connecting these textile clusters are not in line with the requirements.
    
7. Today these towns use only NH 67, to establish connectivity among themselves.
    
8. Developing a two lane road along either of the banks of Noyyal would provide excellent connectivity between the textile towns further augmented by the existing roads.
    
9. During the last 50 years, over a period of time, the tanks and ponds that lies along the belt of river noyyal had fallen into a state of ruin by the encroachments and letting out of sewage into the river.
    
10. The Siruthuli organization in Coimbatore is already taken up the task of desilting the river noyyal step by step coupled with the desiltation of the tanks and ponds giving life to the river and the tanks along the river.
     
11. As a result of this effort, all the tanks and ponds between Coimbatore and Tirupur have been completely desilted and today these tanks and ponds are filled with water to the brim.
     
12. The implementation of this scheme would change the very nature of River Noyyal from a sewage infested water side to a full fledged river supporting the water ways, tanks and ponds all along the river side.
     
13. The construction of the road, would remove all the encroachments along the river noyyal, would facilitate the flow of water in noyyal and also from all the streams that join river noyyal during rainy season.
     
14. This would ensure the complete filling of all the tanks and ponds that lies on either side of the river Noyyal and also would substantially increase the water table of the entire stretch.
     
15. This would inturn increase the availability of water both for the irrigation, population along the belt of river noyyal and also help the development of industries.

Benefits :

1. This particular project has multiple benefits apart from providing connectivity.
    
2. The implementation of this project would provide an excellent compensation satisfying all the villagers who live along the river side and were affected by the polluted river.
    
3. By developing this road, the real estate value of the land area along the road side would increase, increasing the revenue generated for the state government to the minimum of 275-325 crores during buy and sell of land year on year from the date of implementation of this project.
    
4. The development of roads, would attract newer and existing units to expand and establish their factories along the road which would provide an inevitable link between all these five textile cluster which would in turn provide a strong textile hub for the industries in this belt to challenge the global competition. TCIDS (Textile Center Infrastructure Development Scheme) a programme implemented by Ministry of Textiles, already implements the projects of this kind, paving ways for creating textile hubs between these textile clusters.
    
5. The development of this road, would not only facilitate easier & comfortable implemention of laying the pipeline for transportation of waste water into sea but also it would bring down the costs involved in laying of the pipeline separately.
    
6. The development of this road, would facilitate, to have an easier check on the letting out of solid and liquid wastes into river noyyal.
    
7. The development of this road, would facilitate, the easier and faster desiltation of the Noyyal River Bed, which is now infested with bushes and shrubs.
    
8. The desiltation of river noyyal, would facilitate, in the reduction of  criminal activities, happening within the bushes and shrubs in the Noyyal River Basin.
    
9. This one project alone would directly provide multiple benefits to the public, agriculturists, farmers, Industries in this belt, to the State Government and also indirectly to the Central Government and also gives the Government a return on their investment within a few year
    
10. This project would also help in the development of a huge textile hub in Tamil Nadu.
     
11. This project would over a period of time increase the employability by leaps and bounds.

4. Extension of Proposed Gas Pipeline Between Cochin and Coimbatore to Tirupur

1. The Government of India have a proposed plan to lay a pipeline for transportation of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from Cochin to Bangalore, via, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode.
    
2. The proposal is an extension of similar projects done in Western India, especially in Surat and Ahmedabad, where a pipeline supplies LNG to the textile processing units and other industries.
    
3. In the Western India project, the LNG is being transported from Mumbai to Surat and Ahmedabad.
   The project in a very short span of time had reduced the fuel cost incurred by various industries in these cities.
    
4. A similar project is being envisaged by three prominent textile associations in Panipet too and a SPV is formulated named, “Panipet Gas and Energy Private Limited”, for supplying LNG to the units which currently uses Diesel as a fuel for power generation.
5. Tirupur is no different. In Tirupur, Firewood is being used as a fuel for generating power. In tirupur, three major textile industries were using firewood as fuel, viz., Dyeing units, Compacting Units and Steam Calendaring units.
   
   
   
   There are around 720 dyeing units, and 250 processing and finishing units.
    
6. All these units require to generate steam for processing and all of them use Firewood as the fuel to generate steam.
    
7. Currently the industries in Tirupur use around 3000 tones of Firewood in a day, which are sourced from nearby forests and from all over tamil nadu.
    
8. Every year 1095000 tonnes of firewood is being used in the processing industry and on a fair estimates it would increase by a minimum of 15% year on year.
    
9. The current pipeline for Gas that has been envisaged by the Central Government runs from Cochin to Bangalore touching the very borders of Tirupur
    
10. The associations in Tirupur strongly recommend that the pipeline carrying Gas should first be introduced in Tirupur as it would be beneficial for the industries in Tirupur
     
11. The reason is simple. Tirupur, as a textile cluster, earns about 8000 cores in foreign exchange and another 6000 cores by way of catering its supplies to the domestic markets.
    
    
     

5. Requirements for Effective Management of Power Problems.

1. The TNEB’s power generating capacity as on 31.03.2006 is 10011 MW comprising of 2970 MW from Thermal Stations, 424 MW from Gas Turbine Stations, 2137 MW from 32 Hydro Stations, 1101 MW from Private Sector Projects, 178 MW as a contribution to Tamil Nadu Grid, by sale of electricity from Captive Generating Plants, 2841 MW as Tamil nadu’s Share of Central Generating stations and 360 as external assistance.
     
    
    
2. Generating capacity from privately owned wind farms is 2912.11 MW and TNEB’s wind farm capacity is 19.355 MW.
    
3. Out of the many Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Tamil Nadu is blessed with conducive natural meteorological and topographical settings for wind power.
    
4. Estimated Capacity for Power Generation from Renewable sources in Tamil Nadu.

1. Taking the guidelines from MNES, the purchase rate was originally fixed at Rs.2.25/unit from 1-12-95, with 5% annual increase for five years.
    
2. After the five year period, the rate has been pegged at Rs.2.70/unit without any escalation.
    
3. According to TNERC report, the windmill generators may either sell the surplus energy available after adjustment to TNEB at an outright price of Rs.2.70/unit or bank the surplus.
    
4. However in reality, the industrial leaders feel, though an annual escalation of 5% was recommended as per the norms of MNES, there was no sufficient escalation in the last five years.
    
5. In addition, the TNEB is also making extra-ordinary delays in releasing payments to promoters who opt for sale of energy with delay ranging from 4-5 months.

Benefits:-

• TNEB could back down its thermal stations during this period as they are assured of good quality power from the windmills in the State and use this shutdown period for annual service and maintenance. 
   
• This would not only provide green power to the State and help it conserve coal if thermal stations are backed down.
   
• The TNEB could also sell this power to power-deficit States such as Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
   
• This step will also help those who have invested in wind power to repay their bank loans.

6. Creation of Vocational Training Institutions bridging the gap between the demand and supply of labour force.

1. FOR the booming Tirupur knitwear export industry, the mounting orders from importers this year may sound as good news.
    
2. But the surge in orders has led to gaps in the manpower planning for a labour-intensive industry in Tirupur, which is heavily dependent on outside labour both for the skilled and unskilled jobs.
    
3. Moreover, the recent rains have further increased the requirement of labour for the Tirupur industry.
    
4. The textile industrial units acutely feel large-scale absence of migratory labour, which has left Tirupur units to resume farming activities in the light of copious water now available for cultivation.
    
5. Even as the units have gone in for capacity addition in view of large scale exports orders the shortage of labour is a reality now.
    
6. The annual demand for skilled work force itself is estimated to be at 100,000 which is increasing at the rate of 15%-20% year on year.
    
7. Adding up to the problem, is the poor infrastructure facilities for transportation.
    
8. Tirupur, attracts skilled labour and middle level management executives as far from Palghat.
   
   
   Numerous job vacancies placards are hanging over the gate of a garmenting unit in Tirupur .

1. In addition to this, bigger garmenting units in Tirupur, is scouting for skilled labour in towns and villages located as far as 60 kms.
    
2. Larger units spends huge amounts of money in transporting to and from their towns to their units by buse
   Adding to the problems of acute manpower shortage, Tirupur faces another grave problem in terms of lower productivity rate of labours.
    
3. Given the low productivity of the existing labour and the very high attrition rate among the skilled workers, the garment units in Tirupur on expansion mode are now compelled to look for training of workers rather seriously

1. A van carrying placards for Job Vacancies seen at a town 40 kms away from Tirupur
   
   Need of the hour:

1. Training takes a lot of time.
    
2. Today the industry requires huge number of candidates to be trained in various skill areas like, knitting, tailoring, cutting, embroidery, Printing, Quality Assurance, dyeing, machine technicians, electricians, compacting, packing assistants, etc on a continuous basis.
    
3. To impart minimum required skill to labour would require only 3-4 months.
    
4. Though Tirupur have a few institutes, only SIHMA Institute of Fashion Designing and Apparel Training and NIFT – TEA, ALT institution, institution run by AEPC, are some of the noteworthy institutions. Also, With Tirupur knitwear production becoming a year-round activity coupled with mounting job orders placed by the importers, today the job market is getting re-tagged from being seasonal employment to continual employability.
    
5. The KNITcMA association and other associations related to the industry, feels that there is an immediate requirement for opening up a minimum of 10 technical institutions churning out a minimum of 100,000 students skilled in various activities to support the industry every year.
    
6. The associations in Tirupur are more than ready to support Government in activities related to establishing vocational training institutions.
    
7. The associations and industry can provide support in terms of physical building up of infrastructure and commits to recruit the passing out students within the industry.
   Another solution suggested by the Associations, is the increasing the existing infrastructure facilities.
   For example, a lot of skilled workers and management executives travel from Coimbatore and Erode to Tirupur everyday.
    
8. They depend heavily on buses which becomes an expensive affair over a period of time.
   A lot of people travel by train, and they reach Tirupur from as far as Palghat.
    
9. However the number of passenger train services between these towns is restricted to only 2 one in the morning and one in the evening.
    
10. Though the number of bus services between these towns and Tirupur is quite good since it is expensive not many workers are getting attracted to come to Tirupur from nearby cities.
     
11. The associations put forward to the Government to increase the number of train services at least to a minimum of three services in the morning and 3 services in the evening to start with, with provisions to increase the services over a period of time.
     
12. Travel by train is a lot more cheaper and convenient when compared to other modes of transportation, especially in the wake of increasing petrol and diesel prices.
     

13. Travel by train becomes cheaper as the commuters have a facility of opting for a monthly pass at a subsidized rate, while in buses it may not be possible as a number of buses are operated by private owners.

Benefits

• These initiatives would create more employability in Tirupur
   
• The industry would get continuous feed of skilled labour, compensating an ever increasing demand for workers.
   
• These infrastructure facilities would directly improve the productivity of the workers.
   
• The increase in the number of vocational training institutions and the increase in the train services between Coimbatore and
   
• Tirupur and Tirupur and Erode, is much desired as together it will solve the problems of labour shortage and retention to a larger extent.

1. Shortage of labour has hit exports of knitwear in Tirupur.
    
2. At a time when the industry is witnessing a rapid growth with the opening up of the quota-free textile regime, industry sources feel that the shortage of labour has come in the way of growth.
    
3. While unemployment problem remains a cause for concern in all other parts of the country, Tirupur witness a huge shortage of labour throughout the year.
    
4. As the exports go up the problem too aggravates.
    
5. Among more than two lakh workers in Tirupur, half of them do not have quality housing.
    
6. The industry feels that unless housing facility is established it is difficult to attract workers.
    
7. An Aerial View of Nethaji Apparel Park
    
8. Lack of proper housing, poor lifestyle owing to air pollution, and absense of infrastructure are some of the reasons attributed for shortage of labour.
    
9. It has been observed that many labourers have left Tirupur after working here for a couple of years because of various reasons.
   
    
10. Thousands of families live in single bedroom houses called line houses, that have just 100 sq., ft., space.
     
11. The rent of these 10ft x 10ft house is around Rs.1000/month. The exorbitant rent and high cost of living are the twin problems that drive the workers out of Tirupur.
     
12. The associations of Tirupur strongly feel that a massive housing scheme for the poor workers is required as immediately as possible.
    
     
13. The associations have already started implementing a couple of schemes to provide housing facilities for workers in TEKIC (Tirupur Export Knit Industrial Complex) and NAP (Nethaji Apparel Park).
     
14. These housing complexes is being constructed at a cost of Rs.1.5 crores and 2.5 crores respectively.
     
15. Both these housing complexes would accommodate women inmates.
     
16. The managers of these industrial complexes strongly feel that similar such projects should be derived at the earliest.
     
17. The TEKIC housing complex has been built to accommodate 300 inmates and the NAP housing complex is being built to accommodate 440 inmates.
     
18. These complexes are built by an SPV, NTADCL, under IIUS (Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme), of DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.)
     
19. It should be noted that the SPV NTADCL, is our country’s first ever Public Private Partnership venture.
     
20. The associations are interested in going in for further such Industrial Housing Complexes with the same kind of a set up.
     
21. The associations feel that Tirupur requires housing facilities to accommodate a minimum of 10000 workforces.
     
22. An aerial view of Nethaji Apparel Park

Benefits:-

• The Hostel Facility or Construction of Housing Complexes for Workers, would immediately help in retention of labour force.
   
• It would help in reducing the rate of attrition in the industries.
   
• It would attract large number of migratory workforce which is the back bone of tirupur industrial growth.
   
• These confidence level in availability of labour force would increase among industrialists and in turn the industry would be in a position to execute more and large number of export orders.
  
  This proposition could lead to direct and indirect motivation for the workforce, which in turn would lead to the increase in productivity levels.