The Kanpur leather industry, closed since December 2018, has received a breather from the Uttar Pradesh government. The tanneries have now been allowed to reopen, subject to certain conditions.
Kanpur leather industry, including tanneries and leather goods manufacturers, is valued at around Rs 12,000 crore and provides direct and indirect employment to about a million people in Kanpur and Unnao districts. The cluster exports goods worth Rs 6,000 crore to the Gulf, Europe, China, Iran etc.
The tanneries looking to reopen will have to satisfy environmental norms of National Green Tribunal (NGT) and UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), which will