Gurpargat Singh Kahlon, president of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, said: “Zero liquid discharge is not possible practically as one unit will need an investment of nearly a crore. The total investment in the smaller units comes to just 20-30 lakh. Hence, the proposal is not viable for the majority of the small units.”

The association stated that if government wants us to adhere to the scheme, they should cooperate in setting up individual treatment plants as the industries cannot afford the burden.

In the past, many other units have highlighted this inability as well. A deputation of representatives from the industry had even met Chief Minster Prakash Singh Badal.

Recently, an Italian expert had inspected the industries of Ludhiana. He later met the chief secretary of the Punjab government and suggested that, rather than zero liquid discharge scheme, industrial waste should be recycled as is the practice in many Europeon countries.

V K Goyal, CEO of Vardhman spinning mills, said: “The government has asked us for more details on the recycling project. We are hopeful that the project will help a large section of the industry. Moreover, the recycled water can be used for irrigation and compost made out of sludge can be sold as well.”