Surat: A 600 million litres per day (MLD) deep sea discharge pipeline project aimed at supporting the region’s growing textile processing and chemical industries has gained momentum. This follows the Gujarat Maritime Board granting its No Objection Certificate (NOC), after an earlier clearance from ONGC.

The Deep-Sea Discharge Project, spearheaded by the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and the South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA), aims to discharge treated industrial effluents into the deep sea through pipelines.

The project is estimated to cost ₹6,000 crore, with 20% of the funding to be contributed by industrialists and the remaining 80% by the government. Tenders will be floated both nationally and internationally.

Once operational, the pipeline will handle treated water from over 400 industrial units, including textile processing mills and chemical companies located in Kadodara, Palsana Eco Park, Sachin, and Pandesara GIDC estates in Surat district.

Industry representatives believe the project will have a positive environmental impact. A coastal area near Maroli and Vansi Borsi has been identified as the discharge site. Treated water will be released 10 km from the coastline and 1 km deep into the sea to minimize ecological disruption.

Currently, the region’s combined industrial discharge is estimated at 450 MLD. The new pipeline is being planned with future capacity in mind. Discharge from seven Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in and around Surat will be routed through this system, which is also expected to help reduce water treatment costs. DeshGujarat