Jitendra Singh Inaugurates Low-Cost Effluent Treatment Plant at CSIR-IICT in Tarnaka

On Tuesday, 30 June 2026, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh inaugurated an innovative, decentralised effluent treatment plant at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) campus in Tarnaka, Hyderabad. Developed by CSIR-IICT researchers with backing from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the low-cost, nature-based facility is designed to manage toxic textile wastewater and improve public health outcomes for traditional weaving communities.

The newly deployed plant is specifically engineered to address the environmental challenges faced by the Siripuram Ikkat handloom weaving community. Siripuram, a prominent hub known for its traditional handloom weaving, is home to nearly 6,700 residents who have long dealt with the hazards of chemical-laden wastewater.

For generations, discharge from textile dyeing units in these handloom clusters has polluted local water bodies and degraded surrounding soil, posing severe environmental and public health risks. The new plant counters this by utilizing nature-based solutions that avoid expensive, high-maintenance chemical setups. This keeps operating and maintenance requirements minimal, making the system highly viable for rural artisan communities.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Singh highlighted the growing role of CSIR laboratories in connecting with the public and supporting local industries. He noted that CSIR-IICT has become an important link between agricultural research and industry, facilitating startups, entrepreneurs, and technocrats.

Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director of CSIR-IICT, stated that the facility serves as a vital, scalable model. The low-cost template developed by the institute is expected to be replicated across various textile clusters and handloom communities nationwide to manage wastewater sustainably.

In addition to the effluent treatment plant, the Union Minister inaugurated several other facilities on the Tarnaka campus. These included an advanced research facility for Fluorochemicals, an advanced platform for continuous-flow manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, and a sustainable engineering complex. Dr. Singh also laid the foundation stone for a new 200-student hostel complex at the IICT campus, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 45 crore.