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Industrialists in Peenya have finally moved closer to their aim of setting up a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in the area. The Karnataka government has responded to the request of the Peenya Industries Association (PIA) and announced the allotment of INR 10 crores in the Budget presented in the Assembly on 5 July 2018.
This decision has brought great relief to the industries in and around Peenya. These industries can now have their effluents processed at their own CETP. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) rules that the liquid effluents from the factories are extremely toxic and hence they should process them only at the CETP and not to discharge them anywhere else.
Since Bengaluru city lacked a CETP, the effluents had to be sent to a private plant in Doddaballapur, paying a processing fee of INR 4 to INR 5 per litre of effluent. Unable to bear the burden, the industries discharged the effluents into gutters and storm water drains. The KSPCB inspection
revealed this fact.
In 2008, the KSPCB set up a CETP of 125 KLD capacity in a five-acre area in Peenya, but struggled to maintain it. This plant needed upgrades because of its obsolete technology. Therefore, KSPCB handed 20,000 square feet space out of the five-acre plant area and asked the PIA to set up the CETP. Although the PIA agreed, it faced a paucity of funds. It requested the government for INR 25 crore. However, the government allocated INR 10 crores in the budget.
Once the CETP in Peenya becomes operational, industries can save more on transportation costs. The cost for processing a kilolitre of liquid effluent will be just INR 0.80 to INR 0.90.
PIA President Malyadri Reddy has appreciated the government’s help to fund the CETP setup in Peenya. He said that the association would build the CETP within six months with the guidance of the KSPCB officials and the IISc scientists.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
