Floriculturists urge revival of long-pending scent factory project in Kanniyakumari
The long-pending request of the farmers from Kanniyakumari district to establish a scent factory at the Floriculture Research Station (FRS) in Thovalai has remained stalled for over seven years.
While the farmers from the region have consistently urged for the implementation of the project, officials have pointed to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board's (TNPCB) nonchalant attitude to issue No Objection Certificate for the implementation of the project, citing various environmental and safety concerns.
Established in 2008, the FRS in Thovalai is the first research station dedicated to flowers in a plain region. The station has been actively engaged in experimenting various projects for the benefit of the floriculturist and individuals involved in utilising the byproduct of the flowers.
Accordingly, the station had undertaken a project under the National Agriculture Development Programme about seven years ago to set up a scent factory on the station premises.
This initiative received robust backing from the farmers, floriculturists from Kanniyakumari and nearby districts, as it promised a regularised income through their floral yields. A steam distillation unit including boiler and other essential equipment was installed at a cost of around ₹25 lakh. However, the project came to halt due to the TNPCB's non-clearance of NOC.
Despite this setback, farmers have continued to urge the government to shift the project to other suitable locations within the district.
Chenbagasekara Pillai, a farmer from Thuvarangadu, highlighted that the implementation of the project would benefit the floriculturist in the region, where they will be having a stable income.
'The project would also encourage many others to turn to floriculture, which has been declining in the region due to climatic challenges, financial difficulties, and other issues,' he added.
Noting that flowers are being actively cultivated in Rajavoor and nearby areas, beyond Thovalai region, he emphasised that setting up even a small unit elsewhere in the district would be beneficial. 'This issue has been raised multiple times at the farmers' grievance redressal meeting, but no effective measures have been taken so far,' he stated.
Vasanth, a florist from Thovalai echoed these concerns, stating that the establishment of the scent factory would create employment opportunities in the region. He added, 'Many times our flowers are destroyed by rain and are thrown away as garbage due to lack of alternative use. If a scent factory is established in our district, floriculturists from Kanniyakumari and neighbouring districts could benefit from our hard earned yield.'
A source from the research team explained that the primary reason for the TNPCB's refusal is the safety requirements that there should be no residential units within 2 km radius from the plant, due to the use of inflammable substances like hexane and others scent making.
The source noted that the project could still be shifted to other remote places in the district, the central government has stopped funding under the scheme, and it remains at the audit update phase. 'If the State government or any other private entity is willing to take up the project, it would be a significant boon for the farmers,' the source noted.
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