The Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ-SEZ) performed the Bhoomi Puja for its 2 Million Litres per Day (MLD) Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and 3.5 MLD Common Sewage Treatment Plant (CSTP), formally commencing construction. The foundation ceremony was held in the presence of Shri Alex Paul Menon, IAS, Development Commissioner, MEPZ-SEZ; Shri I. Sajid Hussain, Chief Operating Officer, Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited (TWIC); and Shri Pushpak Shah, Vice President, Saurashtra Enviro Projects Pvt. Ltd.
The Rs. 111.50 crore project has been awarded to M/s. Saurashtra Enviro Projects Pvt. Ltd., Surat, a Detox Group company, with construction and commissioning scheduled over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance. TWIC, a joint venture promoted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, provided project development consultancy covering industrial surveys, effluent characterisation, technology selection, detailed design and contractor procurement. The 2 MLD ZLD CETP is designed to recover approximately 1.90 MLD of high-quality water for industrial reuse and about five tonnes of sodium chloride per day, while lime sludge will be sent for co-processing in cement kilns.
Established in 1984, MEPZ-SEZ hosts electronics, garments, fragrance, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering and software units. The project aims to strengthen environmental compliance, water security and circular-economy practices by reducing dependence on tanker and TWAD water, protecting groundwater and enabling wastewater reuse. MEPZ has also undertaken desilting of Chitheri, Tirunermalai, Kadaperi and Veeraraghava Eri and installed modular sewage treatment plants to support the surrounding community and improve local water conservation.