CLOSURE OF TANNERIES IN VELLORE DISTRICT
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
A big confusion and tension prevailed in Ambur and its surrounding places on 25th and 26th November 2013 when directions were issued by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for closure and stoppage of power supply to Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) – M/s. Ambur Tannery Effluent Treatment Co. Ltd., (Amburtech – Thuthipet sector) and its consented member tannery units. The closure order could not be postponed even for a day despite best efforts by some tanners. The action for power cut and closure was very swift resulting in the closure of as many as 47 tanneries in the Thuthipet sector.
It is learnt that the closure order was issued after an inspection of the CETP and the Palar river by the District Environmental Engineer (DEE), Vaniyambadi. The finding is that the municipal sewage generated in and around Ambur municipality area and the untreated and partially treated trade effluent from Amburtech CETP are being discharged in the river but there is no discharge of effluent from member tanneries directly into the river. It is said that there was a complaint regarding these effluents being discharged into the river in a daily newspaper earlier and on the basis of that the inspection was done.
The Board had directed the CETP earlier vide its communication dated 13th September 2013 to restrict the quantity of trade effluent received from its member tannery units to 50% (1100 KLD) of its consented quantity (2219 KLD) and operate the existing ZLD System efficiently and continuously so as to achieve ZLD at all times without discharging untreated/treated trade effluent outside the premises. The Board had also directed the CETP to instruct the member tannery units to restrict their production to 50% of their consented capacity and correspondingly reduce the effluent generation by 50% until the installation and commissioning of 3rdstage RO and additional MEE system by the CETP.
Although the CETP tried it best to restrict the quantity of inflow of trade effluent to 50% i.e 1100 KLD as per Board direction, it was found to be higher (1300 KLD) on the verification of records and during inspection on 20th November 2013.
However N.M. Zackeria & Co. and Jai Bharath tanneries which are situated in the Thuthipet sector have not been closed as there was no violation of any sort in the separate effluent treatment plants owned by them. Some other tanneries in other sectors in Ambur such as T. Abdul Wahid & Co. which have their own plants functioning well without any irregularities are also not affected.
On the whole some 13 (thirteen) tanneries which come under the Maligai Thope CETP and 10 (ten) other tanneries which have their own effluent treatment plants are functioning without any problem as there is no effluent violation whatsoever in their units.
The closure of 47 tanneries in the Thuthipet area of Ambur has affected the leather industry badly. Tanners fear that if the hides and skins available in their tanneries are not processed on time, they will be damaged and the loss will be unimaginably high. The leather goods, garment and shoe factories in many parts of India and abroad which have business contacts with them will also face difficulties if the contracted leather items are not supplied to them within the stipulated time. It will affect industrial growth and export.
The affected tanners are very much worried and making arrangements for an efficient functioning of the CETP by adhering to the directions given by the Board. They say that it has never been their intention to violate the norms or pollute the atmosphere….. It is the unfortunate industrial pollution in spite of their cautious approach…. Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, President, All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association is busy in consulting tanners and finding a permanent solution to this ugly problem.
(VMK in Indian Leather, December 2013)
(VMK in Indian Leather, December 2013)
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