The Pollution Control Board (PCB) on Thursday gave a clean chit to the Kitex textile unit in the district regarding allegations of contamination of canal water in its vicinity.
The board has, in a submission before the court, said the allegations levelled against the unit were wrong and the analysis report of canal water near Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) did not show any contamination from the Kitex.
“Samples collected from the outlet of the STP were examined, and as per the report, the treated effluent from STP conforms to the standards specified by the board,” PCB Chairman A. Sajeevan said.
The submissions were made in response to a petition filed by two residents of Kizhakkambalam panchayat seeking closure of the unit.Thereon, the court had asked the PCB to conduct a study and file a report before it.
In its report, the board made it clear that the actual capacity of the unit was 20 tonnes of fabric a day while the production was of 12 tonnes a day.
Meanwhile, Kitex managing director Sabu M Jacob submitted that a closure of the plant would affect 8,000 odd employees.
He said false information was given by persons having some grudge against the company. The entire treated effluent was utilised for irrigation purpose, he added.