CETP in Jodhpur: a pragmatic view of ground reality

The textile industry, one of the most polluting global industries, is hurting our planet. Ecological damage takes place at every stage of textile products’ life cycle (from fibre to finished product). Consumption of huge amounts of water and manpower, leakage of chemicals into the ecosystem and dangerous working conditions result from textile production. In Jodhpur, an Indian textile cluster, a common effluent treatment plant (CETP), was set up because the individual textile units were unable to treat their waste effectively. In the present study, current industry profile was reviewed and compared in terms of investment, type of production, type of labour, machinery, heat sources, raw materials, etc. Establishment and working of the CETP, its monitoring, quantitative and qualitative assessment, the type and frequency of government inspections were also reviewed along with the impacts on lives of workers and people residing in the area. It was found that the industry faces challenges in disposing of sludge safely, with workers often misreporting effluent discharged. Workers suffered from poor working postures, musculoskeletal disorders, and exposure to toxic chemicals. Safety gear was only used during inspections. Employment was seasonal, with unsatisfactory pay and living conditions. In addition to these problems, strict law enforcement, an uncertain future of the industry, and increasing pressure from pollution monitoring agencies led to closure of a large number of processing units. Thus, implementation of norms in the studied area showed that it has resulted in a trade-off between employment and environment.