Parliament Question: Environmental degradation faced by Erode city, Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2608 ANSWERED ON 16/03/2026 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION FACED BY ERODE CITY, TAMIL NADU 2608. SHRI ANTHIYUR P. SELVARASU : Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that Erode City, in the State of Tamil Nadu continues to face environmental degradation including land, water, noise and air pollution, creating governance complexity and civic service deficits; (b) if so, the details of Government interventions planned for pollution mitigation and urban service strengthening in Erode City under national missions; and (c) the measures Government proposes to ensure integrated environmental planning and enforcement-driven urban management in Erode City? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) to (c): As per the 12th Schedule of the Constitution of India, urban planning is the responsibility of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/Urban Development Authorities. The Government of India supplements the efforts of States through policy support, advisories and financial assistance under various urban sector missions such as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)/AMRUT 2.0 and Swachch Bharat Mission (Urban). As informed by Erode City Municipal Corporation, Erode Taluk serves as a hub for Textile Processing units and Tanneries in clusters. The Textile Processing activities such as Dyeing, Bleaching, Printing, Tanneries and other type of industries are functioning in and around Erode City Municipal Corporation Area. The textile processing units which includes dyeing, bleaching, printing and tannery units in the Erode City have provided Effluent Treatment Plant for the treatment of trade effluent generated from the process. The legacy waste remediation of nearly 6 lakhs cubic meter has been carried out under Smart City Mission, thus avoiding land pollution due to leachate. The air pollution monitoring systems have been installed in two places in the city by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and are monitored regularly. Further, the ULB has reported that the State has established a Climate Change Cell to create district specific plans for adaptation and mitigation. …2/--2- Central Pollution Control Board has informed that in order to treat and manage industrial effluent generated in the Erode district, Tamil Nadu, there is one operational Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), namely- M/s Perundurai Common Effluent Treatment Plant, which caters to the textile industries in the area. The CETP has an installed and operational treatment capacity of 4.05 Million Litres per Day (MLD) and is operating on Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) principles. The plant is equipped with an Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) connected to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) server for real-time monitoring. Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0, projects related to water supply, sewerage and septage management, rejuvenation of water bodies, development of urban green spaces and capacity building have been taken up in cities across Tamil Nadu, including Erode City, with the objective of improving urban service delivery and environmental sustainability. Under the Mission, States/ Union Territories (UTs) are empowered to select appraise, propose and implement projects. Under AMRUT, Tamil Nadu State has taken up 21 projects worth ₹506.41 crore in Erode City which include one water supply project worth ₹495.3 crore and 20 green spaces & park projects worth ₹11.11 crore. Further under AMRUT 2.0, 03 projects worth ₹24.14 crore approved in Erode City which include one water supply project worth ₹22.4 crore and 02 waterbody rejuvenation projects worth ₹1.74 crore. Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 launched on October 1, 2021 is being implemented uniformly in urban areas of all States/UTs including Erode City, Tamil Nadu for a period of five years with a vision of achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities through 100% scientific management of all fractions of municipal waste. As reported by the State of Tamil Nadu on Swachhatam portal, in Erode ULB, door to door collection and source segregation is practiced in all wards and 146.97 ton per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste generated is processed on daily basis. *****