NAMAKKAL: Minister for milk and dairy development C Vijayalakshmi on Thursday night conducted a surprise inspection of dyeing units at Kumarapalayam in Namakkal district and sealed two units operating illegally.Following public complaints about illegal dyeing units in and around Kumarapalayam, the minister, along with Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials and police, carried out a midnight inspection in the Ottamettai area on the Pallipalayam-Sankari Road.They found a dyeing unit, which had been sealed a few months before, operating at night. The seals and locks placed by officials had been broken, and the unit was functioning illegally by employing local and migrant workers. Officials confirmed that untreated toxic effluent was being discharged directly into an open drain.On seeing police and officials, workers disconnected the power supply and fled. Using mobile phone flashlights, officials searched the dark premises and found a migrant youth hiding behind a gas cylinder. The youth said he had been working at the unit for several months.The minister later inspected another dyeing unit in the Aavathipalayam area and found that it was also operating illegally despite being sealed a few months before. She instructed TNPCB officials to take stringent action against the non-compliant units.Speaking to the media, Vijayalakshmi said the inspection was conducted based on complaints that sealed dyeing units had resumed operations illegally. “The inspection confirmed the allegations,” she said. The minister said a one-month grace period had been granted to upgrade effluent treatment facilities to protect workers’ livelihoods, but owners had misused the leniency. She added that no further extensions would be given and strict legal action would be taken against units violating rules and polluting the Cauvery river.
