Textile Industry : Dangerous Productivity !!!—Col CM Lakhanpal
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Here is my take on Textile Industry’s pollution :
1. Textile manufacturers undertake a range of waste-generating activities such as washing/drying, warp preparation, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, quality and process control, and warehousing. The major wastes generated by this sector are fibre wastes.
2. The growth of textile industry is high due to the ever-increasing usage of the textile products. The textile processing includes various stages involving the use of numerous chemicals. The textile industry produces wastes in the form of wastewater effluent. The wastewater effluent contains solvents which are mostly organic along with used oils and coloring agents. In addition, solid wastes like fabrics soaked with oil and grease are also produced. These wastes from textile industry are toxic and hazardous to the environment. In order to reduce the harmful impact of textile waste and to create a safe environment, these wastes are to be utilized in sustainable applications. One such exploitation is the generation of electricity from the waste of textile industry. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) may be employed to convert chemical energy in the effluents to electrical energy through the oxidation of chemicals. MFCs use microorganisms to oxidize the chemicals to produce electricity.
3. There are three basic needs that a man possesses food, clothing, and shelter. The global textile and clothing industry is bound to be huge, as it fulfills the second basic requirement of man. It is worth $480 billion at present and is expected to reach $700 billion, shortly. This is because people are getting increasingly conscious of the way they dress. It has become a means to create an impression and represent their personality. Everybody wants to strike an impression with different and fashionable clothes.
4. But the sad fact is that the human greed to look appealing and wear glamorous clothes has ended up causing harm to the environment. The textile industry is one of the most pollutants releasing industries of the world. Surveys show that nearly five percent of all landfill space is consumed by textile waste. Besides, 20 percent of all fresh water pollution is made by textile treatment and dyeing.
5. Pollutants released by the global textile industry are continuously doing unimaginable harm to the environment. It pollutes land and makes them useless and barren in the long run. Surveys show that cotton consumes the highest amount of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Majority of them fall on land while they are sprinkled on the crop. Similarly, textile manufacturing units release hazardous waste into the nearby land.
6. A study was conducted to test the amount of metals present in soil and groundwater located near to the textile and tannery industries in Haridwar, India. Results indicated all the metals like Chromium, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Lead, and Cadmium were present in amounts larger than that prescribed as safe by World Health Organization (WHO). They can cause many problems in living beings.
7. The hazardous effects of the use of toxic fertilizers in the farms are the highest in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. A case of 1991 caught attention when four US companies based in South Carolina mixed large amounts of hazardous wastes into a shipment containing fertilizers. The wastes contained huge quantities of lead and cadmium. This shipment was purchased by Bangladesh. Before the reality came into limelight, it was used in farms across the country. Children sprinkled these fertilizers in farms without any protection and were negatively affected by its exposure.
8. The textile industry uses millions of gallons of water everyday. The problem does not rest in the high usage, though! The waste is not treated to remove pollutants from it before it is disposed to water bodies. The waste water usually contains PBDEs, phthalates, organochlorines, lead, and many other chemicals that cause severe health problems and diseases in human beings.
9. The liquid effluents released by the textile industry are the most disturbing area of concern. This is because the toxic material released through liquid waste is vast in quantity. It consists of chemicals such as formaldehyde (HCHO), chlorine, and heavy metals. Besides, it is disposed into water bodies that reach far away areas and is consumed by a large number of people for drinking or for daily activities. They need to be treated to reduce their toxic content before being released into water bodies.
10. Air pollution caused by the textile industry is also a major cause of concern. Boilers, thermo pack, and diesel generators produce pollutants that are released into the air. The pollutants generated include Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), sulphur di oxide gas, oxide of nitrogen gas, etc. The nearby areas with human population get affected adversely owing to the release of toxic gas into the atmosphere.
11. It has become utterly necessary to reduce the pollutants emitted by the textile industry. Contamination of the air, water, and land by textile industries and its raw material manufacturing units has become a serious threat to the environment. It has endangered the life of human beings and various other species on Earth. Global warming is a direct result of the pollutants released by such industries. It also causes harmful diseases and health issues in people getting exposed to the pollutants in the long run.
12. The use of organic raw material can help in fighting the emission of pollutants by the textile units. Organic cotton is especially beneficial as the production of cotton asks for the maximum amount of pesticides and fertilizers. Besides, the waste generated from textile manufacturing plants should be processed in a manner that it is free from toxic chemicals before it is disposed. Environment friendly methods of cultivation and manufacture should be resorted to.
13. There is no doubt to the fact that the textile industry releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere in large quantities. It is agreed all over the world that textile industry is one of the most pollutants emitting industries of the world. Almost 2000 different types of chemicals are used in this industry. It consumes as well as contaminates fresh water. There is a need to take actions in this direction, urgently.
14. It’s for the information of those, who consider Textile Industry as Pollution Free and Ecofriendly.
Col CM Lakhanpal
“SANGHARSH “
Ludhiana
94171 38044.
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Comments of esteemed readers are welcome in the comment box beneath the article by Col Lakhanpal to weave the threads of important discussions on the issue which is most irritant in context of rivers water pollution.
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2 comments
ਮੱਤੇਵਾੜਾ ਟੈਕਸਟਾਈਲ ਪਾਰਕ, ਮਾਡਰਨ ਇੰਡਸਟਰੀਅਲ ਪਾਰਕ, ਕੂਮ ਕਲਾਂ ਮੈਗਾ ਟੈਕਸਟਾਈਲ ਪਾਰਕ ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਇੱਕੋ ਹੀ ਵਿਨਾਸ਼ਕਾਰੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਸਤਲੁਜ ਦਰਿਆ ਦੇ ਕੰਢੇ ਮੱਤੇਵਾੜਾ ਜੰਗਲ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਲੱਗਦੇ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਯੋਜਨਾਬੱਧ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੱਕ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਪਤ ਰੱਖਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਆਖਰਕਾਰ ਇਸ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਲੜਾਈ ਕੁੱਝ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਐਨ ਜੀ ਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੜੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਲੋਕ ਲਹਿਰ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਯਤਨ ਵੀ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।
ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਬਦਕਿਸਮਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰੋਜੈਕਟ ਲਈ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਵਾਤਾਵਰਣ-ਸੰਵੇਦਨਸ਼ੀਲ ਖੇਤਰ ਚੁਣਿਆ ਹੈ। ਵਿਕਾਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਂ ‘ਤੇ ਇਹ ਕੁਦਰਤ ਬਨਾਮ ਵਿਨਾਸ਼ ਹੋ ਨਿਬੜਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇੱਕ ਪਾਸੇ ਹਨ ਸਤਲੁਜ, ਉਸ ਦੇ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨ, ਸਤਲੁਜ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਗੁਣਵੱਤਾ, ਦੱਖਣੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੀਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਮਸਲਾ, ਮੱਤੇਵਾੜੇ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਜੰਗਲ, ਮੱਤੇਵਾੜਾ ਦੀ ਜੈਵ ਵਿਭਿੰਨਤਾ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਜੰਗਲ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਧਰਤੀ ਹੇਠਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਵਾਤਾਵਰਣ, ਜਲਵਾਯੂ ਪਰਿਵਰਤਨ ਦੇ ਖਤਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਉਦਯੋਗਿਕ ਲਾਬੀਆਂ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ, ਭਾਰਤ ਸਰਕਾਰ, ਟੈਕਸਟਾਈਲ ਉਦਯੋਗ, ਨੌਕਰਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਤੇ ਮੂਰਖਤਾ।
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਖਿਅਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਅਤੇ ਆਮ ਵਾਂਗ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਚਿੰਤਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਪਦੇ ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਕੁਝ ਇਸ ਲੜਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਦੂਰ ਤੋਂ ਦੇਖ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਜੇਕਰ ਉਹ ਉਹੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹਿਣਗੇ ਜੋ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਹੀ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਰਹੇਗਾ ਜੋ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੈ।
Mattewara Textile Park, Modern Industrial Park, Koom Kalan Mega Textile Park are all names of one destructive idea being planned on the bank of River Sutlej on its flood plain adjacent to Mattewara Forest. The Govts of Punjab and India have finally announced the idea after keeping it secretive for more than a year. The battle has been raging both in public domain as well as in the NGT.
The Govts have unfortunately chosen most Eco-sensitive area of Ludhiana for the project. Its Nature vs Destruction in the name of development. Its Flood Plains of Sutlej, Water Quality of Sutlej, Drinking Water issues of South Punjab, Biodiversity of Mattewara, Forests of Punjab, underground water of Punjab, Environment of Punjab, Climate Change threats on one side vs Industrial Lobbies, Govt of Punjab, Govt of India, Textile Industry, Bureaucracy, Stupidity on the other.
The people of Punjab are not educating themselves about it and not concerned as usual though some are watching this battle from the sidelines. If they keep doing what they have always done .. they will keep getting what they have always got.
Jaskirat Singh
PAC for Sutlej & Mattewara
9815781629
Full of insights which are vital for policy makers in Textile,environment & health sectors. Your alerts & concerns can be ignored only at the cost of catastrophic consequences for all human beings ,flora & fauna. Salute your hard efforts for this article-full of facts . Pl keep it up.