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Tiruppur

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Tiruppur is a major city and municipal corporation located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It sits on the banks of the Noyyal River in Western Tamil Nadu. The city is the fourth largest in the state and serves as the administrative capital of the Tiruppur district. Today, the city is internationally recognized as a massive hub for textiles and knitwear. This industry has transformed the region from a quiet agricultural area into a powerful economic center.

The history of this region spans many centuries and different rulers. During the Sangam period, between the 1st and 4th centuries CE, the Cheras ruled the area. Later, the early Pandyas, medieval Cholas, and the Vijayanagara Empire all held power here. In the 18th century, the Kingdom of Mysore ruled the region. Following the Anglo-Mysore Wars and the defeat of Tipu Sultan, the British East India Company annexed the area into the Madras Presidency in 1799. After India gained independence in 1947, Tiruppur was part of the Coimbatore district. It finally became the capital of the newly formed Tiruppur district in 2009.

The name "Tiruppur" may have roots in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It is believed to combine two Tamil words: "Thiruppu," meaning to turn, and "oor," meaning a place. This suggests a meaning of "the place where they were returned," referring to cattle stolen from the Pandavas and returned by Arjuna. Historically, the region was part of Kongu Nadu. It was also a key part of a prominent Roman trade route. This route connected the east and west coasts of India.

The geography of Tiruppur is defined by its climate and soil. The city has a hot semi-arid climate, known as Köppen BSh. The summer months of March, April, and May are hot and dry. The monsoon seasons bring rain from June to August and again from October to December. The presence of the Palghat gap allows some south-west monsoon rain to reach the city. The soil is predominantly black, which is excellent for cotton cultivation. There are also areas with red loamy soil.

The economy shifted dramatically during the 20th century due to a textile boom. Originally, the town was mostly agricultural with irrigated farms. In the 1970s, many small farm owners began starting textile-related units. This created an interwoven network of small-scale industries that fueled rapid growth. Now, Tiruppur is known as the knitwear capital of India. There are over 10,000 garment manufacturing industries in the city. These factories employ more than 600,000 people.

Tiruppur's economic significance is reflected in its massive export numbers. In the 2021–22 period, the city exported garments worth 4.5 billion USD. This amount represents nearly 54% of all textile exports from all of India. Large global companies like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok import clothing from this hub. To support this, special industrial parks like the Nethaji Apparel Park have been built. The city's success is so great that it was among the top 20 Indian cities for billionaires in 2023.

Industrial growth also brought environmental challenges regarding water pollution. In the past, untreated industrial effluents containing dyes and chemicals were sometimes released into the Noyyal River. This caused significant issues for local farmers. In 2015, the Madras High Court ordered that industries must follow Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) protocols. ZLD is a process where all liquid waste is treated and recycled so nothing is released into the environment. While this increased operational costs by 7% to 10%, Tiruppur became the first textile cluster in India to achieve this standard.

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