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Locals up in arms against leather unit
Farmers and local people are up in arms against the International Leather Complex proposed at Kothapatnam in Kota mandal in the district. Environmentalists are also backing them saying that the government hand not considered possible risks from the unit caused by huge discharges of pollutants.
- The unit coming up on 485 acre at Kothapatnam in Kota mandal is a Special Purpose Vehicle by APIIC and Lidcap
- Locals fear damage to environment and agricultural fields from harmful chemical effluents from the complex
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Nellore: Farmers and local people are up in arms against the International Leather Complex proposed at Kothapatnam in Kota mandal in the district. Environmentalists are also backing them saying that the government hand not considered possible risks from the unit caused by huge discharges of pollutants.
The leather complex is a Special Purpose Vehicle incorporated by the APIIC and the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (Lidcap). The State government allotted 485.88 acre at Kothapatnam village for the International Leather Complex, which is a Special Purpose Vehicle of the APIIC and Leather Industries Development Corporation of AP (Lidcap) being set up under Mega Leather Cluster Scheme.
Grant Thornton India LLP has been appointed as the project development management consultant. But the local people, farmers and people’s organisations have been opposing the unit fearing that it would spoil local environment and fields. Chemicals like lime, sodium sulphide, formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol and chromium used in the tanning are highly hazardous and affect the human beings and other organisms in the area adversely.
Criticising the Assessment (EIA) report of the project,Jana Vignana Vedika leader N V Ramanaiah said, “The report is false. It failed to mention the presence of precious natural spring channels in the area where the project is proposed. It ignored presence of local communities that have been relying on farming and horticulture for a long time. We oppose the project as it will impact the region badly.”
The areas near the proposed unit have been witnessing protests by various sections of people, who recently met the District Collector to express their opposition. The project was proposed seven years ago but has failed to take off. The State government allotted land near Krishnapatnam Port in 2008 but subsequently changed it to Kothapatnam considering problem of backwaters being close to seacoast.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests gave clearance for the project and the delay in commencing the construction work is being attributed to a scrutiny being carried out by National Productive Council at the instance of Union government’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. According to officials, the estimated cost of the project is Rs 282 crore as per the detailed project report. Pollution Control Board had also given consent to the complex.
