In a major decision which would pave way for finding a solution to the environmental, financial and other issues of the R16,000-crore Tirupur knitwear industry, the President has constituted a seven-member, high-level inter-ministerial committee to address them in both the short and medium terms.

The knitwear industry has been going through a bad patch over the last seven months since the Madras High Court ordered the closure of the 750-odd dyeing units and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).

The order followed the units? non-compliance with the norm of attaining zero liquid discharge (ZLD) at their units and polluting of the Noyyal river, the main source of water for cultivation of the farmers in the area.

The committee will comprise secretary, Union textiles ministry, as its chairman and other members will include secretaries of the Union finance ministry, Union environment and forest ministry, Union ministry of science and technology; chief secretary of the Tamil Nadu government, president of Tirupur Exporters? Association (TEA) and five nominees from TEA, dyers? industry. The central government may co-opt joint secretary, department of expenditure and such other technical expert and consultants.

Over the short term, the committee will draw up an auctionable roadmap to ensure compliance with the environmental regulatory standards which would comprise an inter-ministerial meeting including TNBC, director-general of NEERI, Anna University, IIT Madras, Centre for Environment Studies to be held in Delhi and to explore legal options for short-term remedy for an early re-opening of dyeing units which have been shut since the end of January this year. These two tasks should be completed in the first instance of 30 days, said TEA sources.

The committee chaired by the secretary (textiles) could be constituted thereafter subject to consent of the Tamil Nadu government. The committee will analyse and recommend feasibility of the temporary authorisation by various agencies like the electricity board and the pollution control board.

The committee will estimate financial implications in terms of rate of interest on the borrowings for installation of CETPs and its impact on labourers and the citizens who are dependent on this industry.

A review would be held after one month to assess the short-term measures, the TEA sources pointed out.