Tanneries invest in TDS technology

Tanneries in the Chennai state are willing to invest in any proven technology that can bring down the total dissolved solids (TDS) in treated effluents to below permissible limits, according to the chairman of the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA), T Rafeeq Ahmed. Speaking at the agm of the association, he hoped that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) realised the keenness of the industry to resolve the issue. Since the industry had already started paying the Rs27 crore towards compensation for ecological damage, it was keen on making further investments only on technologies with a proven track record. The tanneries want the state government to establish a well-developed leather complex facility near the coast, so that the tanners would be relieved of some of the pollution problems. It wants the state government to take the cue from the West Bengal government, which is developing a leather tanning complex at Kolkata. According to him, though leather exports had been badly affected by the events of September 11, 2001, there had been an improvement in the US economy in the second quarter of 2002, which has resulted in an improvement of business. Overall, October 2001-September 2002 export prformance was not as bad as anticipated. NB 1 crore = 10 thousand Rs1 = US$0.021