Industry & Economy
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Leather
Kolkata leather complex set to take off
Indrani Dutta
A view of the Calcutta Leather Complex. — Parth Sanyal
Kolkata July 15
WITH 15 tanneries getting the State pollution control board's nod, the Calcutta Leather Complex (CLC) is now ready to commence operations.
Of the 15 tanneries which have received the pollution clearance, nine are new units while six are relocating tanneries, according to sources at M.L. Dalmiya & Co Ltd, the company implementing the project on a build- operate-transfer (BOT) basis.
Sources said that a certain portion of the 1,100 acre plot, 14 km east of Science City, has already been earmarked for establishing a special economic zone, for which the Centre's approval has been obtained.
Tanneries would have to sign an operation and maintenance agreement with the BOT party before commencing, sources said.
Under the pact between the State Government and ML Dalmiya & Co, maintenance work would be carried out for 30 years by MLD.
State industry department officials said that commencement of production would mark the second stage of the project.
Sources said that while 397 units (new and relocators) have started construction at the site, 70 have made good progress, which includes installation of machinery.
Some of the major tanneries which have made progress at the site were Mow Chong Tanneries, Crescent Tanneries, Taj Leather and Alam Tanneries.
These companies are now located in the Tangra, Tiljala and Topsia area of the city. As per an apex court judgement, delivered in 1995, they are required to shift out of their present locations on pollution control grounds.
However, most of the tanners had dodged efforts by the State Government to force a relocation or to shut down operations, even as the project inched towards completion. Work on the CLC started in January 2000 and MLD has so far spent about Rs 180 crores on the project.
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