CHENNAI: Armed with a long list of requests and grievances, the unit holders of Ambattur Industrial Estate held an interaction with Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (TANSIDCO) Limited Chairman, Mohan Pyare. The meeting was organised by Chennai Auto Ancillary Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Company (CAAIIUC), ahead of the inauguration of completed infrastructure upgradation works, including a sewage treatment plant, a model road and a pay and use toilet. Officials from Ambattur Municipality and Public Works Dept (PWD) were also present.Director of CAAIIUC, V Raju, said one of the major problems they faced was that of handling waste. Transforming the estate into a zero-waste zone as desired by R Ramasubbu, District Environmental Engineer (DEE), was an uphill task. He said, “This estate is nearly 50 years old. Giving us the examples of MEPZ, which is a smaller and more planned area, and expecting us to implement the same idea here is difficult.”The DEE had suggested that the Ambattur estate lay pipelines and get their effluent treated to be reused in their respective factories. This was discussed in a previous interaction held in May this year. It faced heavy opposition at that point, and the unit holders continue to request that this plan be scrapped. Ramasubbu said, “You can use the treated water for greenery and toilet purposes. Do not dump it in the Korattur Lake.” But the members are not convinced, and insist that workers would be unwilling to use such water, not to mention the cost involved in transporting water to and from the treatment plant. Former presidents of the CAAIIUC gave their suggestions regarding disposal of the treated water. Pyare said that a decision could not be reached immediately, but the issue would be looked into with adequate inputs from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Other major items on the agenda were the building of a common effluent treatment plant, which the North and South Phase industries could use. Pyare said, “If it is a viable solution according to the TNPCB, we will take this up immediately.” He also said that he would look into building a common testing facility, which was in the original layout, but was never built. This would help in the calibration of equipment.The Ambattur Municipal Commissioner faced some tough questions, as the forum asked why the Municipality was not doing its basic function when all the industries were paying their property taxes and all other dues on time. Being new to the post, he promised to ensure that the garbage was cleared on time and that liquid waste from factories would not be dumped into storm water drains. “Anyone found dumping waste illegally will be warned the first time. If found violating again, the vehicle will be seized,” he said.Other issues on the table included the ownership of unoccupied land, encroachers and unauthorised street vendors inside the estate. Pyare said that these would be clarified once he had an idea of land ownership. He ruled out setting up shop for the vendors and asked the members to suggest ways to remove them.About the impending monsoon, Raju said, “Every year we shut down the industries for a minimum of 15 days due to the flooding in the estate. When will this end?” This was directed at the PWD officials, who said that desilting work would be done before the rains started.
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