Jalandhar leather manufacturing in crisis as PPCB acts hard

The Jalandhar leather manufacturing is in the doldrums. Annual global orders, which were worth Rs 850 crore two years ago, have come down to Rs 300 crore.All 56 units are running to 35 per cent of their capacity, as the Punjab Pollution Control Board had sealed their drums a year ago owing to improper functioning of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant.Tanners said they had been paying a great deal for the common services in the cluster but were not being permitted to operate them fully. Leather unit owners said the 5 million litres per day (MLD) CETP was commissioned through a private company in 2010. However, it had never worked to a ability of beyond 3.5 MLD and was incapable to treat the discharge fully.