Southern States
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Tamil Nadu
'Tanneries must conform to environment norms'
By P.V.V. Murthi
AMBUR, DEC. 5. A significant effort by the Central Leather Research Institute Chennai, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation at helping tanners at Ambur achieve global standards in environment management got under way with the conduct of a workshop on `Environment Management System (EMS)' on the premises of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant in Thuthipet near here on Tuesday.
Two experts from Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft (CDG), Germany explained to tanners the ways of adhering to global standards not only to prevent pollution of the environment but also avoid economic sanctions by foreign buyers.
Dr.Jurgen Hannak, EMS consultant for the CLRI, said some buyers might say they would not like to buy Indian shoes as animals were not treated properly in the country. Or they might not favour Indian leather products since environmental pollution was caused in the process of manufacture or for reasons of child labour in tanneries.
The German consultant said the performance of the leather industry was more critical in Tamil Nadu than in other States because of the Supreme Court intervention in matters of tannery pollution.
Dr. Rolf Ludwig, visiting EMS expert from CDG, said Germany wanted to help the tanning industry in Tamil Nadu to tackle the problems by improving its manufacturing processes not only from the environmental point of view but also from the commercial angle.
Mr. N. Shafeeq Ahmed, president, Indian Shoe Federation, Chennai, said the tanners would do well to upgrade their manufacturing and effluent treatment processes and achieve international standards in pollution control and other parameters. An international quality label alone would fetch a better value for their products.
Mr. R. M. Subramaniam, expert, cluster development programme, UNIDO, said the current effort in association with the CLRI was at making the leather industry eco-friendly. So far, only ad hoc measures had been taken by the tanneries in achieving EMS. They would soon be able to attain international standards in environmental management.
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