Pollution board asks UP govt to shut tanneries violating norms

KANPUR: The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has written a letter to the state government asking it to shut down 21 tanneries here for violating orders prohibiting discharge of polluted water in the Ganga.

The Board said it has consistently served notices to the tannery units to install Primary Treatment Plant (PTP) to discharge polluted water but instead they are discharging water directly in the river.

Radheyshyam, Zonal Officer of the Pollution Control Board said that 80 tannery units have been shut for not installing the treatment plants.

It has also been found that 21 tanneries have been producing beyond their treatment plan, he said, adding that permission has been sought from the pollution control board to shut these units.

Radheyshyam said a letter in this regard has been written by the District Magistrate to the Chief Secretary (Environment) and to the Secretary of State Pollution Control Board.

District Magistrate Hari Om has directed the Board to inspect primary treatment plants in Jajmau area here, where the tannery units are located, and to inspect whether the water purification is done by as per production capacity.

He said if the factories are found violating the orders then immediate action should be taken against them.

The District Magistrate has also asked the ADM (City) S K Singh to convene a meeting of tannery owners and convey to them that strict action will be taken if they violate the environmental norms.