To reduce the emission of toxic waste being discharged by tanneries in Jajmau area near Kanpur, the authorities now plan to introduce biological treatment of industrial waste — already being implemented successfully in Italy.

To assess the model, officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (ILFS) and tannery associations recently visited Santa Croce in Italy. They have also submitted a report in this regard.

“At present, we are treating toxic waste discharged from the tanneries by using chemicals like sulphuric acid and lime. During our visit to Italy, however, we saw that waste was being treated with the help of biological components,” said Naiyer Jamal, Secretary of Small Tanners Association in Jajmau.

As part of the technology, bacteria is generated that eats into the bio-degradable material of the effluent. This further reduces the generation of sludge by 40 per cent, as compared to the present technique. “We have submitted the study report to the concerning authorities and a final decision will be taken after a meeting to be held in Kanpur this week,” added Jamal.

Currently, there are 407 tannery units in Jajmau. A Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is treating 36 MLD of industrial waste, including 27 MLD domestic and 9 MLD industrial wastes on a daily basis. A senior government official said: “In the next five years, around 65 MLD of waste will be discharged on a daily basis. Of this, while 45 MLD will be industrial waste, 20 MLD will be domestic waste. So, a recommendation to increase the capacity of the existing CETP has also been mentioned in the report.”

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