Industrialists of textile town, Ichalkaranji being advised to recycle the pollutants by Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh, during his visit to centrally effluent treatment project (CETP) at Ichalkaranji. He has warned them that not only the industries, but the river too will not survive if they failed to do so. As there are 68 processing units in Ichalkaranji of which around 10-12 processing units still not attached to CETP

He has asked the industrialists in the textile town of Ichalkaranji to find out ways to reuse pollutants being generated from the processing units. Units use various hazardous chemicals to process fabric and CETP has a capacity to treat 12 million litres of waste water every day

Singh praised the efforts taken by the textile processing units in the town and said instead of depending on the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MPCB) or Central Pollution Control Board, the units must be honest with themselves.

Singh said that it's your river and your town and you have to take care of the water and river. There are honest efforts being taken towards a pollution-free river. However, it's not enough. The way river are polluted, it will take a long time and more efforts to make it absolutely clean.

CETP chairman and office-bearer of Western Maharashtra Processing Units Association, Giriraj Mohta, told Singh that the sludge generated by the plant is being transferred to Ranjangao in Pune district. They have proposed the MPCB to provide them technology to make bricks from the sludge. If they can reuse the sludge it will reduce the pollutants going out from the plant.

The textile industries in the country are passing through a very difficult phase. At such a time, the industries must concentrate on eco-friendly techniq-ues for processing or else it will be difficult to survive.

Sunil Pawar, chief officer of the Ichalkaranji Municipal Council, said that they are planning to create a bund at Kala Nala, a stream that carries water coming out of CETP to the river.

They are planning to reuse water for agricultural land but before that a survey will be conducted to see if the water is not affecting the land and crops. A chemical analysis of the CETP water has been proposed. Farmers have demanded that the municipal council start a pumping station at the bund which is being considered.