Cracking down on polluting tanneries, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board today initiated the process of closing 98 such factories in Kanpur, which were allegedly releasing toxic effluents in River Ganga, by cutting electricity supply to them.

The Board also stopped water supply to the tanneries which had government water connection, officials said.

All the tanneries which faced action are in Jajmau, a suburb.

Additional District Magistrate, Kanpur (city), Avinash Singh said that National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently sent a team comprising central and state pollution board officials to examine the tanneries in Kanpur and the status of pollution of the river.

Consequently, the State Pollution Control Board filed a report. Based on the report the state authorities asked the district administration to ensure closure of 98 tanneries named in the report. The administration initiated the closure process by cutting power and water supply, officials said.

The ADM said that these tanneries did not install Chromium Recovery Plant despite a warning. Majority of the tanneries in Kanpur use chromium for treating leather.

Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board, Kanpur, T U Khan said that a report would be sent to NGT once the process of closure of tanneries is completed.

No relief will be granted to the tanneries that have failed to comply with the rules, Khan said.

President of Uttar Pradesh Small Leathers Association Taj Alam said he was out of town and has not been informed of the development.

Kanpur had 402 tanneries of which 77 were already defunct. The 98 tanneries are among the 323 that were operational. The tanneries are considered to be the major source of pollution in Ganga.

The ADM said that a large contingent of police has been deployed in the area to deal with any law and order situation.

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