Tamil Nadu: Faced with closure threat, dyeing unit owner pays Rs one lakh fine

TIRUPUR: Owner of a textile dyeing unit at Mudhalipalayam panchayat on Tuesday paid Rs 1lakh fine after authorities on anti-dengue drive found a major mosquito breeding site on the premises and threatened to seal the unit. The authorities also took measures to clean the concrete tanks containing mosquito larvae.
“We have been working hard to check dengue fever cases in Mudhalipalayam.We inspected housing complexes and industrial complexes in the village and imposed hefty fines on those who failed to upkeep hygiene and prevent formation of mosquito larvae,” said a district rural development agency official.
“Last week, our anti-dengue team found that a private dyeing unit, which was often locked, was a major mosquito breeding site. There were eight concrete tanks used for dyeing and bleaching purposes. Since the machines were not operated for at least six months, rainwater had collected in the tanks,” he told TOI. “We were shocked to find mosquitoes swarming. So, we imposed Rs 1lakh fine and also directed the unit owner, Saminathan, to clean the tanks and other places last week. But he neither paid the fine nor cleaned the premises till Tuesday. Hence, collector K Vijayakarthikeyan ordered to seal the unit. When we tried to seal it, the owner paid the fine. As directed, he also brought 75,000 litres of water to clean the tanks.”
The officials asked the businessman to cover the tanks with mosquito nets. “We hope that the number of dengue fever may come down following this effort” the official added.