Kochi: At a time when there is concern over the polluting plywood industries in Perumbavoor area, Naas Plywood Industries at Allapra has won the laurels for its environment-friendly and pollution-reducing activities and secured the award of the State Pollution Control Board for the second consecutive year.
It is for the first time a plywood unit is winning the award in the small industry category.
“We’ve taken several measures to minimise the damage to the environment. A special dust collector equipment has been installed to filter dust particles. The 80-metre- tall boiler chimney keeps the amount of carbon being pushed into the atmosphere below the permitted level. Only the smoke will be emitted and the ashes will be collected in a water tank,” said Mr M. M. Nizar, company owner.
As part of the efforts to promote environment conservation, the industrial unit has set up an organic farm and a bio-gas plant on its premises. The fuel from the bio-gas plant with a capacity of 20 metric tonnes is used for cooking purpose at workers’ houses and the slurry is being used for farming.
“We’ve been conducting various community awareness programmes among migrant workers in association with the health department. Classes are given on infectious disease prevention, sanitation, ill-effects of drugs and alcohol consumption and sexual diseases. Migrant workers from other plywood units are also being invited for such sessions,” he added.
The unit, set up in 2001, has an effective mechanism to treat waste water as well. Of the 80 workers, 65 are from other states.
