In the upcoming years, there is a possibility of a decrease in the release of colored industrial waste into the Sabarmati River. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has called upon the management of common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) to prioritize the elimination of color from their industrial waste. CETPs are actively researching different technologies to ensure that the effluent they discharge is devoid of color.
According to a senior official from the GPCB, “We have instructed all CETPs to work towards removing color from their waste discharge. While most CETPs have already met the necessary standards in various aspects, the issue of color still poses a significant challenge. We anticipate CETPs to embrace new technologies to guarantee that their discharged water is colorless.”
Shailesh Patwari, the chairman of the Ahmedabad Mega Clean Association (AMCA), has shared, “The majority of CETPs have successfully achieved a chemical oxygen demand (COD) level below 250 mg/liter. Their current focus lies in eliminating color from their effluent. For instance, the Naroda and Odhav CETPs are implementing the hydrodynamic cavitation system based on suggestions provided by the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI). This system is expected to significantly reduce color in the effluents. We have also installed meters to monitor the discharge of CETPs, although there are some incidents of unauthorized discharge within the mega line. We are actively working in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and GPCB to address this issue.”
Established in 2002, the mega line serves as a pathway for the disposal of waste from industries located in Naroda, Odhav, and Vatva. The management of the mega line is vested in the Ahmedabad Mega Clean Association (AMCA), which includes CETPs, the industries commissionerate, and GIDC as stakeholders. With a capacity to discharge 90 million liters per day (MLD), the typical volume of effluent released amounts to approximately 60 MLD.
A senior official from The Green Environment Services Coop Society Ltd, responsible for overseeing Vatva CETP, has stated, “We have met the required standards through the Fenton Catalytic Reactors Project. Currently, our focus is on removing color from the effluent in compliance with the guidelines put forth by GPCB. We will commence trial runs in the near future.”
A representative of Narol Textile Infrastructure and Environment Management (NTIEM) has affirmed, “The GPCB has instructed us to eliminate color from our effluent. With a capacity of 100 MLD, we are exploring various methods to accomplish color removal. Our aim is to finalize a new technology for this purpose soon.”