A proposal for establishment of wastewater treatment plants at 56 locations has been forwarded to the State Government. The treatment plants are estimated to cost about Rs. 142 crore, official sources said.

Based on success of a model plant coming up at Soolai adopting advanced FPSTAR technology developed by a Bengaluru-based laboratory, treatment facilities will be established at the identified points along canals and rivers where sewage and industrial effluent was being let in. The plants are envisaged at vulnerable points along the Perumpallam and Pichakaranpallam canals, besides embankments of Bhavani and Cauvery rivers, the sources said.

The model plant featuring two units with capacity to treat 1.2 lakh litres each per day using Aquatron Boomtube Resonator is touted to be the first plant in the State to convert sewage wastes and industrial effluent into foodgrade water. The facility is slated for commissioning during April.

In the meantime, the Pollution Control Board, which has been testing water samples in the rivers every month to check the extent of Total Dissolved Solids, is learnt to be urging the 30 tannery units in and around Erode town to adopt waterless chrome tanning technology advocated by Central Leather Research Institute.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Erode Tannery Owners’ Association and Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for deploying the technology-infusion to contain pollution.

The new technology has already been trial tested successfully in a few industries in Erode district.

The CLRI had promised to establish a common facility centre for the units with aid from the Ministry of Mirco, Small and Medium Enterprises. The technology, CLRI scientists have assured, will lead to enormous saving of water.