Tanning industry losing business to other states

FRODE: Due to the closure of tannery units here, the industry is losing its business to states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. As many as 12 tannery units in and around the district, and another 12 located at the Perundurai SIPCOT Industrial estate, were recently closed for violating orders from the High Court and the TNPCB by establishing Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants, to attain zero liquid discharge.The tannery workers also resorted to a stir last month and demanded relief from the government.In the light of these developments, tannery association functionary K K S K Rafiq told Express, “Due to the closure of the units, the normal business has gone to other States. All units have a specific production capacity. Hence, the existing units, numbering around 20, could not double their production capacity to meet the demand. As a result, the small tanners are forced to send their raw skin to units at Vaniyambadi and Ambur, while others outsource their work orders to big units in AP and WB.”He said they would also consider seeking government help, in the line of the `200 crore interest-free loan extended to textile units in Tirupur.