71.100.31.227 at 05:49, 10 October 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kolkata Leather Complex
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname = Bantala
| settlement_type = Planned Industrial Complex
| image_skyline = Calcutta_Leather_Complex,_Gate_No-1.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Calcutta Leather Complex, Gate No-1
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts in India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[South 24 Parganas district|South 24 Parganas]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Kolkata Leather Complex|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2001/01/20/stories/142060s8.htm|access-date=2 July 2019|archive-date=19 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619135602/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 4.5
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 238 Tanneries
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Hindi]]
| coordinates = {{coord|22.499881|N|88.516055|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 743 502
| footnotes =
}}

The '''Kolkata Leather Complex''' is an industrial complex at Karaidanga, [[Bantala]] near [[East Kolkata]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About – Calcutta Leather Complex Tanners Association|url=http://calcuttaleathercomplex.in/new_website/about/|access-date=2020-09-10|language=en-US|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717125037/http://calcuttaleathercomplex.in/new_website/about/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is located 20 km from the central business district of [[Kolkata]] and has an area of about 4.5 square kilometres. It was conceived following a [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] directive to relocate polluting [[Tanning (leather)|tanneries]] and now encompasses approximately 500 individual units, handling 22 to 25 percent of India’s tanning output. The complex features dedicated infrastructure including a Common Effluent Treatment Plant, pumping stations, and utilities for consolidated [[waste management]] and environmental compliance.

==The complex==
The complex is intended to serve as a central leather-tanning business for Kolkata.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute|url=https://www.clri.org/DepartmentDetails.aspx?DP=339|access-date=2020-09-10|website=www.clri.org|archive-date=25 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925090549/http://clri.org/DepartmentDetails.aspx?DP=339|url-status=live}}</ref> Bantala has approximately 500 tanneries<ref>{{Cite news|last=Acharya|first=Namrata|date=2019-07-18|title=Bengal allots 70 acres to 187 new tanneries in Calcutta Leather Complex|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/bengal-allots-70-acres-of-land-to-187-new-tanneries-in-bantala-leather-hub-119071800775_1.html|access-date=2020-09-10|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026104855/https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/bengal-allots-70-acres-of-land-to-187-new-tanneries-in-bantala-leather-hub-119071800775_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Kolkata one performs 22-25% of all the tanning in India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-21|title=Our Lust for Leather Comes at a High Price in the Developing World|url=https://undark.org/2017/02/21/leather-tanning-bangladesh-india/|access-date=2020-09-10|website=Undark Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930004056/https://undark.org/2017/02/21/leather-tanning-bangladesh-india/|url-status=live}}</ref> The state of [[West Bengal]] is responsible for about 55% of India's leather exports. As of 2009, about 200 tanneries were relocated to the Kolkata Leather Complex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbidc.com/images/pdf/annual_report/annual_report-09-10/Leather-Industry.pdf|title=Industry Specific Review: Leather Industry|date=2009–2010|work=West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation|access-date=20 January 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304230449/http://www.wbidc.com/images/pdf/annual_report/annual_report-09-10/Leather-Industry.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The project includes a police station and a fire station; in 2017 the police station was brought under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata police.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/leather-complex-police-station-to-come-under-kolkata-police-4554924/|title=Leather complex to come under Kolkata police|date=5 March 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052856/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/leather-complex-police-station-to-come-under-kolkata-police-4554924/|url-status=live}}</ref> The facility also houses the [[Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology]], which is affiliated with [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology]], Kolkata.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://engineering.careers360.com/colleges/government-college-of-engineering-and-leather-technology-kolkata|title=Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology, Kolkata|work=engineering.careers360.com|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927054318/https://engineering.careers360.com/colleges/government-college-of-engineering-and-leather-technology-kolkata|url-status=live}}</ref> A {{convert|130|acre|ha|adj=on}} portion was designated as an [[Information technology|IT]] park.<ref name="gowb">{{cite web|url=http://www.banglarmukh.com/BanglarMukh/Download%3FAlfrescoPath%3DDocuments/WhatsNew%26FileName%3DStatus_CLC.pdf|title=Status Report on Calcutta Leather Complex for incorporation in the portal 'Banglar Mukh'|work=Government of West Bengal|access-date=20 January 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322224916/http://www.banglarmukh.com/BanglarMukh/Download%3FAlfrescoPath%3DDocuments/WhatsNew%26FileName%3DStatus_CLC.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-22}}</ref>

The complex was conceived in the early 1990s as "an integrated complex housing all activities relating to the leather industry in a modern and environment-friendly manner". The need for the project became evident when the [[Supreme Court of India]] ordered that all tanning activities in Kolkata be moved outside the city limits.<ref name = "gowb" /> As of 2013, the complex was still not fully operational, and many illegal tanneries continued to operate outside the complex.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Roy|first1=Utpah Singha|display-authors=et al.|date=7 March 2013|title=Changes in physicochemical characteristics of wastewater carrying canals after relocation of Calcutta tannery agglomerates within the East Calcutta Wetland ecosystem (a Ramsar site)|journal=International Journal of Environmental Studies|volume=70|issue=2|pages=203–221|doi=10.1080/00207233.2013.774810}}</ref>

== Effluent Treatment Plant ==
Pumping stations carry the effluent from the tanneries to a [[Effluent Treatment Plant|Common Effluent Treatment Plant]] (CETP). Problems in completing the common effluent treatment plant have caused serious difficulties, with [[toxic waste]] polluting the construction activities of some companies.<ref name=Madhupama>{{cite news|last1=Madhupama|first1=Das|title=Leather complex turns threat to environment|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/leather-complex-turns-threat-to-environment/368926/|access-date=6 October 2014|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=3 Oct 2008|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305112315/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/leather-complex-turns-threat-to-environment/368926/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was mandated by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] in 1995 to treat 30 million litres per day of tannery waste relocated from Kolkata. Although the project was to be completed by November 1997. It was later expanded with seven additional components, by February 2010 key systems, such as the Common Chrome Recovery System, solid‑waste disposal unit, and treated‑effluent sump and pumping station, still remained unfinished. [[Central Pollution Control Board]] tests found chromium levels in the plant's sludge at around 25 mg/kg, far exceeding safe limits, and noted poor overall CETP performance. Inspections revealed that chrome‑laden cutting scraps and solid wastes were being dumped roadside rather than processed, posing serious surface and groundwater contamination risks. The ''National River Conservation Directorate'' further criticized both tanneries and the state government for inadequate equipment maintenance, lack of qualified staff, and failure to follow up on recommended environmental safeguards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shiv Sahay |first=Singh |date=2011-01-04 |title=CAG slams govt for failure to complete Bantala plant |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/cag-slams-govt-for-failure-to-complete-bantala-plant/ |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Leather industry in India]]

Kolkata Leather Complex - Revision history

71.100.31.227 at 05:49, 10 October 2025