Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
In 1995, the Supreme Court ordered 538 polluting tanneries …
the 1100 acre Calcutta Leather Complex in Bantala opened in 2005. …
Where the canal water is visible and not choked by solid waste, …
Leather shavings and trimmings- end products of finished leather- …
Illegal units operating outside burn and boil the leather …
There is no solid waste treatment facility inside the leather …
Inside the walled units, workers use a host of chemical processes …
Tanneries often do not pre-treat waste before sending it to the …
Constant nausea and burning in the eyes are common among workers. …
Storm water canals inside the leather complex choked with solid waste.
In its first ever environment audit the Comptroller and Auditor …
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
In 1995, the Supreme Court ordered 538 polluting tanneries operating in the heart of the Kolkata to relocate to the outskirts. The tanneries relocated to Bantala, 20 km away, but 17 years later its business as usual.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
The 1100 acre Calcutta Leather Complex in Bantala opened in 2005. Now its a living hell with untreated effluents flowing all over and solid waste choking storm water canals. In a bizzare planning in 2006, the state government of West Bengal opened an Info
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Where the canal water is visible and not choked by solid waste, it is either dull red with blood, dyes or chromium or shines in grimy bubbles.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Leather shavings and trimmings- end products of finished leather- are dumped on the roadside next to the ecologically sensitive Ramsar site of East Kolkata Wetlands.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Illegal units operating outside burn and boil the leather trimmings to make fertilizer and fish feed. The chromium used in processing leather can leach into the ground water polluting the East Kolkata Wetlands, a 2009 inspection report from the union mini
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
There is no solid waste treatment facility inside the leather complex. Hence the crude burning and boiling outside. After repeated complaints from the IT firm Cognizant, some of the solid waste is now being sent to Haldia, 130 kms away.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Inside the walled units, workers use a host of chemical processes to treat leather, but without even the bare minimum protection of gloves. There are 308 tanneries operating at the leather complex.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Tanneries often do not pre-treat waste before sending it to the common effluent treatment plant. Last year the state pollution control board issued closure notices to 18 tanneries. These were violating standards for Ph level, total suspended solids and ch
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Constant nausea and burning in the eyes are common among workers. Very few units supply them with protective gloves, boots or masks. Despite the Supreme Court order there is no hospital yet for the 12,000 workers.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
Storm water canals inside the leather complex choked with solid waste.
DVD NO. Mdvddp036
Toxic-hazardous waste
15 Photos
In its first ever environment audit the Comptroller and Auditor General rapped the state and central authorities for failing to relocate the leather complex properly. 'The project failed to achieve its stated objective of ensuring safe disposal of industr
DVD NO. Mdvddp036