The Supreme Court today set October 31 as the deadline for completing the first phase of the Kolkata leather complex. The court said if the time limit was not observed, strict action would be taken against the contractor, M L Dalmiya and Co.
A Bench headed by Justice M B Shah was examining the 20th progress report of the long-delayed project submitted by the West Bengal government and the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Corporation.
While 216 units have begun the construction of their factories, infrastructure like water, power and telephones are still not in place everywhere.
The 1,100 acre plot is being developed to relocate the leather units operating in the heart of the city and to accommodate new ones.
Several leather units from Tamil Nadu have shown interest in setting up their factories in the new complex. The Supreme Court had imposed strict rules for the operation of leather units in Vellore some years ago.
The project, funded equally by the Centre and the state government, will be built in three stages. Eight zones are almost ready and three more are yet to be developed.
The complex will have a Rs 96 crore central effluent treatment plant, apart from individual treatment plants, shoe factories, and a permanent leather exhibition. The complex is intended to house 500 tanneries.
The Supreme Court, in 1996, had ordered all tanneries operating in the residential complexes of Kolkata to close down. The vacated area will be developed as green lungs for the metropolis.
