Ministry Recommends Deep-Sea Dumping of Industrial Wastewater from Surat

The empowered committee of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change recommended dumping 650 million litres per day of treated industrial wastewater from textile and chemical hubs in Surat. This effluent is proposed to be carried through pipelines to an outfall point offshore in the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of Khambhat. The committee noted that existing effluent disposal systems into local creeks are saturated and cannot handle further discharge.

The project involves a major infrastructure plan, including approximately 67.5 km of onshore pipeline, to manage industrial waste from Surat. The proposal was recommended for Coastal Regulatory Zone clearance. Local fisherfolk in Navsari and Surat have expressed concern over the potential loss of livelihood due to this approach.