The government of India has issued a draft notification to control the massive pollution caused by the textile industry. It has directed the industry players to adhere to the 'Zero Liquid Discharge' (ZLD) norms which make it mandatory for them to recycle all effluents released by the factories. However, experts argue that the cost involved in implementing the method will lead to small players shuttering their units and sludge dumped by the factories making an harmful impact on the environment defeating the whole purpose.

According to the draft notification, all textile units - dyers, cotton or wool processors, integrated factories - that generate over 25 kilo litre effluents daily must install ZLD effluent treatment plants. After the notification is approved, the units will have 30 months to set up the treatment plants. They won't be allowed to operate if they fail to comply. The units that already have effluent treatment plants will be required to make them ZLD compliant.

Experts point out that while the government is taking this measure to clean the mess created by textile factories, even though the effluents are treated in a ZLD plant, sludge remains, which will be dumped, which cannot be released into the ocean since it will be too concentrated. As Rajesh Gajra, an environmental consultant with expertise in setting up effluent treatment plants exclaims that the big question the government will face of handling dumping of this sludge when it's struggling with municipal solid waste management.