A seminar on Challenges and Opportunities in Textile Processing – A Way Forward was held on 21 May 2015 organised by the Textile Association (India), Mumbai Unit. The chief guest was R R Gorakhia, Director, Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles. S M Khire, Director – Operations, Welspun Syntex Ltd. was the Guest of Honour.

The seminar was held in Thane for the benefit of textile processing clusters around the city of Mumbai. The focus was mainly on Green Environment and Green Technology. The seminar was attended by over 150 participants.

R R Gorakhia in his inaugural address emphasised on “zero effect & zero defect” concept initiated by union government on Make in India. He also discussed about the conservation of water, steam, electrical energy, etc. in textile processing. S M Khire in his address said that there are many challenges in the field of processing and these challenges create opportunities to overcome various issues.

Five deeply research papers were presented by eminent speakers at the seminar. They were presented by Elliyas Mohammed of Colourtex Industries, Dr. Ashok Athalye, of Atul Ltd, S M Khire of Welspun Syntex, Vishwanath Shastri of ATE Enterprises and Dr. Binay Kumar Choudhury of Control Union Certifications India Pvt. Ltd.

The Paper Presentations was followed by panel discussion moderated by Dr. G. S. Nadiger, Textile & Management Consultant. The panel comprised of Prabodh Patel, Textile Consultant, Prasad Pant, CEO, NimkarTek Technical Services and Mahesh Sharma, Textile Processing & Environment Consultant.

Dr. Nadiger enumerated the various initiatives taken by industry and government with regards to common effluent treatment plants over the past 20 years. He said the government has given utmost priority for pollution related issues along with technology up-gradation and product diversification.

Prabodh Patel discussed the importance of laboratory functioning to get the consistent results in bulk processing.

Pant expressed his views to restrict the use of hazardous chemicals in the processing and why process and product chemicals knowledge is becoming a critical issue for business development. The hazardous nature and its effect should not be associated with international market as it affects environment and mankind and process optimization to target desired quality.

Mahesh Sharma emphasized on cleaner production and stressed upon on resource conservation. The cleaner production helps to reduce volume and load of effluent and emission.