Kumbh effect: Beleaguered Kanpur leather industry start shifting to Kolkata

Closure of tanneries pulls down domestic finished leather exports and local price of raw-skin

The nearly Rs 12,000 crore finished leather industry in Kanpur is facing almost 50% losses owing to the closure of about 250 leather tanneries over the past four months, forcing some of the units to shift to Kolkata in West Bengal.

The Kanpur tanneries were ordered for closure between December 15, 2018 to March 15, 2019 for ensuring cleaner Ganga during the 2019 Kumbh Mela at downstream Prayagraj (Allahabad).

However, even after the culmination of Kumbh, nearly 90% of the tanneries in Kanpur have still not started functioning since the state green watchdog UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has not