Over a lakh will become jobless, say businessmen over NGT move

A day after National Green Tribunal warned of complete closure of 700 tanneries on the banks of the Ganga river here, businessmen, leather association and tannery owners today claimed that over one lakh people will be rendered jobless if the "drastic" step is taken.
They also claimed that the government will suffer huge revenue losses.
UP Leather Association chairman Taj Alam said that even if all tanneries are closed in Kanpur, the pollution level in the Ganga river will still remain the same as "untreated sewage water and effluents from other rivers will continue to flow in the river."
"This is because, sewage treatment plants in Kanpur, Kannauj and Farrukhabad are not functional. Untreated effluents are being drained into the Ganga river and neither the government nor the Pollution Control Board is paying attention to this issue," Alam said.

The government and Pollution Control Board only "blame" the tanneries for pollution in the river, he said.
"At least one lakh workers are associated with this industry. No one cares about them. Most of the workers are daily wage workers and belong to lower caste. They will be unemployed if tanneries are closed," Alam said.

Chairman of Council for Leather Exporters R K Jalan told PTI over phone from London that he has not read the NGT's order so far.
"If there is any such order we will abide by it. But we will not allow closure of tanneries, the biggest business in Kanpur. We will follow all the orders of the Pollution Control Board," he said.

Leather businessman Imran Siddiqi said that most of the trade is done with European countries, the USA and other African, South American countries.
"If we do not get business from foreign countries, there will be loss of thousands of crores," he said.
O P Pandey, Regional Director, Council for Leather Exports said that all legal aspects are being considered.
"In 2013-14, the turn over in Uttar Pradesh was only Rs 9,200 crore. In this the largest share was of Kanpur. If these tanneries are closed, then the state will loose out on revenue worth thousand crores," Pandey claimed.
"One big industry from Kanpur will be destroyed and it will have its impact on business. Lakhs of people will be unemployed," he said.

Regional Director, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board T U Khan said that there are 402 registered tanneries in Kanpur and some of these are closed.
"I don't know how the figure of 700 came to NGT. We have not received any direction of Central Pollution Control Board. After receiving orders, action will be taken," Khan said.
Yesterday, NGT warned of complete closure of 700 tanneries located on the banks of river Ganga at Kanpur, terming them as one of the "highest sources of pollution".
The tribunal had also observed that if effective steps to curb the pollution level was not taken then the tanneries will be closed as "life of millions cannot be put at stake.