Trans.Inst.Indian Geographers ISSN 0970-9851 A Profile of Industrial Pollution in Municipal Corporation Area: The Case of Tanneries

Anandita Dawn and Ranjan Basu, Kolkata,

Abstract The city of Kolkata has quite a huge concentration of industries within its jurisdiction which have been categorized as Green, Orange and Red by the Pollution Control Board. While the industries under the Green category are found to be least polluting, the Red category units inflict broad spectrum environmental degradation. Though majority of the leather processing units have shifted to the Calcutta Leather Complex at Bantala but still quite a few illegal grossly polluting tanneries continues to operate in various municipal wards of the city especially in east part. Here an attempt has been made to show the impact of tanneries which have been identified as a Red category industry on the workers of these units as well as on the local residents of the area. Key words: environmental degradation, tanning, raw hides, hazardous wastes and red category industries.

Introduction popularly known as Tanneries deserve Tanning is an ancient craft in and has special mention. been practiced for many centuries as an industrial operation at the village level. With Statement of the Problem the progress of time, however, it has acquired There are innumerable tanneries operating the status of a mature industry playing an mainly in the eastern part of the area important role in the country’s economy. under Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The The city of Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) has wastes generated from these tanneries are about 8,832 industrial units which have been in the form of chromium rich waste water categorized as Green, Orange and Red by disposed in local water bodies and sewerages the Pollution Control Board (PCB). There contributing to surface water pollution. are about 1,651 Red category units operating The leather scraps from the tanneries are under Kolkata Municipal Corporation disposed on open grounds and vats which (KMC). These units are the most polluting cause solid waste pollution in the area. industries responsible for air, water, noise Gases like hydrogen sulphide and ammonia and solid waste pollution. The Red category are emitted from these units which are industries are further sub-divided into responsible for air pollution. The chemicals Special Red Category and Ordinary Red used here cause the dissemination of foul Category. Among the Special Red Category smell leading to unhealthy condition induced industries the leather processing units, by odour. Thus it is quite evident that these

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 | 79 units contribute heavily to degradation of the in these units environment and at the same time these are • To find out the frequency of industrial also susceptible to outbreak of fire hazard accidents in these units frequently which has posed as a threat on • To gather information on the safety the lives of workers engaged in these units. measures provided to the workers The safety measures provided to the workers • To assess the impact of tannery induced are inadequate for which they succumb to pollution on the residents of the area industrial accidents. Though these tanneries concerned. are continuously been monitored by West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) Data Base and Methodology but still they continue to contaminate the This work is a combination of primary and water and air. secondary data. Information was generated on working condition of the labourers as Area under study well as their safety measures inclusive of A huge concentration of tanneries under the ventilation, electrical wiring and use of Special Red Category is found in various gloves with boots. Most of the secondary wards under KMC. Though majority of the data were collected from West Bengal tanneries have already shifted to Calcutta Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and Leather Complex (CLC) at Bantala of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). adjacent district still a large number of them Besides, primary data were also collected. continue to operate illegally in various wards Apart from computation of the available of the city especially in municipal wards secondary data and their cartographic 57, 59 and 66 under Borough VII which representation, questionnaires were framed deserves special mention in this respect. for the target groups of tannery workers The tanneries here are located either in the and the local residents for generation form of industrial units, factories or within of primary data. Purposive method of households as domestic units. Ward no.107 sampling was followed with a sample size under Borough XII is noteworthy since it has of 60 factory workers and 90 local residents tanneries under Green and Orange category. representing no less than six different Tanneries certified as ‘least polluting’ municipal wards. Field investigation for are found to be heavily concentrated in ground truth verification was conducted municipal wards 33, 58, 108 and 127. inside the tanneries along with the disposal sites too. Objectives of the Study The study has been initiated to fulfill the A Brief Overview of the Tanneries in following objectives: different Wards of the City • To study the environmental impact of A Tannery is a place where raw hides are tanneries converted into finished and semi-finished • To assess the impact of these units upon leather goods like bags, belts, shoes, watch the health of the workers bands, gloves etc. The word Tanning • To identify the causes of outbreak of fire is derived from Latin word ‘Tannare’

80 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 derived from ‘Tannum’ meaning ‘bark of are grossly polluting units and they have oak’. Tanning is the process of treating contributed to environmental damage skins of animals to produce leather which (Fig.2). The tanneries are mainly responsible is more durable and less susceptible to for water, solid waste and odour pollution. decomposition. The raw materials used here include raw A huge concentration of tanneries skin and hides, formic acid, sulphuric acid is found in Tangra of that and various colouring pigments. The solid traditionally houses a large number of wastes generated are disposed on open tanneries owned by people of the Chinese grounds in the adjacent area of the factories origin (Fig.1). The area has about 350 while the waste water containing acids and tanneries combining both the legal and chemicals are disposed to open drains. This illegal ones. The Chinese of Kolkata have toxic water contaminates soil as well. The gradually turned this part of the city into people in the adjacent areas suffer from an important destination for sourcing obnoxious odour pollution. Majority of finished and semi-finished leather. Finished the wastes generated in the tanneries are leather goods are exported to European not recycled. These units are also prone to countries like Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, fire hazards and industrial accidents. These Denmark, Sweden etc. and also to some tanneries have exerted a tremendous impact Asian countries like China. The study upon the environmental components of conducted in the Tangra- and the area with serious health impact on the area has revealed that the tanneries here workers and local residents.

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 | 81 a regular practice for them. The workers are not given adequate safety equipment like nose masks, gloves and boots. One of the problems which deserve special mention Economic and Demographic Profile of the Problems of the Workers is that the unskilled workers are never Workers in the Tanneries The tanneries are prone to fire hazard which provided with adequate safety measures The survey conducted in the tanneries has has now emerged as one of the threats to which pose a serious threat upon their lives. revealed that 90 per cent of the workers are the lives of the workers. Frequently there is The factory workers also suffer from ill male while only 10 per cent are female. an outbreak of fire which is largely due to ventilation in the units which is reflected Among the male workers 60 per cent were inflammable raw materials used here and in their respiratory diseases. None of the found to be unskilled workers with wage inadequacy of fire fighting equipments and workers enjoy facilities of life insurance. of about Rs.50-80 per day while the skilled safety measures installed in these units. The manual workers get wage of Rs.80-120 apprehension of accidents is much higher Problems of the Local Residents per day. However, there are disparities in in these illegal tanneries which often result According to the local people of the area wages between male and female workers. in burn, amputation of body parts and even they mostly suffer from the problem of solid The female workers are employed at much fatal accidents (Fig.3). The survey conducted waste pollution coupled with emission of lower wage in the tanneries. About 80 per on the workers has also revealed that they gases. The solid wastes like leather scraps cent of the male workers were found to be are prone to a number of diseases such as and untreated raw hides and skins are illiterate while 90 percent of the female skin infection, lung disorder, eye irritation dumped along the roadside, streets, open workers were found to be illiterate. In and breathing discomfort (Fig.4). The skin grounds and vats. These discarded solid case of male workers only one per cent diseases are probably the most common wastes emit foul odour that further add to was found to be educated up to graduation ailment among the workers since they have level while none of the female workers was to treat the raw hides with chemicals and the found to be at par with that level. use of formic acid along with chromium is

82 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 a regular practice for them. The workers are their inconvenience. The tanneries mainly not given adequate safety equipment like dispose their wastes without recycling it nose masks, gloves and boots. One of the (Fig.5). The acid and chromium rich water problems which deserve special mention are released into open drains and local Economic and Demographic Profile of the is that the unskilled workers are never water bodies. In certain parts of Tangra, Workers in the Tanneries provided with adequate safety measures the solid wastes in the form of garbage are The survey conducted in the tanneries has which pose a serious threat upon their lives. collected from the factories by KMC. But revealed that 90 per cent of the workers are The factory workers also suffer from ill there have always been those inside and male while only 10 per cent are female. ventilation in the units which is reflected outside of Government who believed that Among the male workers 60 per cent were in their respiratory diseases. None of the voluntary compliance of industry is not found to be unskilled workers with wage workers enjoy facilities of life insurance. sufficient to safeguard the public health of about Rs.50-80 per day while the skilled for the reason that industry’s financial manual workers get wage of Rs.80-120 Problems of the Local Residents interests often prevent it from doing what per day. However, there are disparities in According to the local people of the area would be socially responsible (Markowitz, wages between male and female workers. they mostly suffer from the problem of solid 2012). In order to solve the problem of The female workers are employed at much waste pollution coupled with emission of pollution caused by waste generated from lower wage in the tanneries. About 80 per gases. The solid wastes like leather scraps the tanneries, the local residents have cent of the male workers were found to be and untreated raw hides and skins are complained several times to local civic illiterate while 90 percent of the female dumped along the roadside, streets, open authorities but many a times their attempts workers were found to be illiterate. In grounds and vats. These discarded solid were in vain. case of male workers only one per cent wastes emit foul odour that further add to was found to be educated up to graduation level while none of the female workers was found to be at par with that level.

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 | 83 processing of leather. Though in some Most of the Indian rivers and other tanneries emissions are well from within the sources of fresh water are polluted by limits and pose no serious environmental industrial wastes or effluents (Khullar, threat. But hydrogen sulphide and ammonia 2009). With solid wastes representing up gases which are emitted during different to 70 per cent of the wet weight of the processes are responsible for health hazard original hides, the tanning process comes of the workers. at a considerable strain on water treatment installations. Tanning of hides is carried Environmental Impact of Waste out with chromium sulphate at pH 3.5-4.0. Generation and Disposal After tanning the solution is discharged in Among all the industrial wastes, tannery drains. In the conventional chrome tanning effluents are ranked as the highest process 20-40 per cent of the chromium pollutants (Shen, 1999). One ton of hide used is discharged in water as hazardous or skin generally leads to the production substances. The waste water with a low pH of 20-80 m3 of turbid and foul smelling is corrosive to water carrying systems and Pollutants from the Tanneries waste water having chromium levels of can lead to metal dissolving in the water. All the three categories of wastes- solid, 100-400 mg/l, sulphide levels of 200- liquid and gases are emitted from the 800 mg/l along with high levels of fat Destination of Tanneries--The Calcutta tanneries in the form of: Waste water, Solid and other solid wastes as well as notable Leather Complex (CLC) wastes and Gaseous emissions. pathogen contamination. About 40 heavy The Government of West Bengal conceived • Waste water: Water is used as the carrier metals and acids are used for processing the Calcutta Leather Complex project in for chemicals to render cleaning of raw hides (UNIDO, 2005). According to the early 90s of the last century. It was raw hides and skins. The water after Imamul Haq (1998), various chemicals planned as an integrated complex, housing completion of the process is drained out are used during the soaking, tanning all activities relating to the leather industry in the same quantity as it was used in and post tanning processes. The main in a modern and environment-friendly the process. This waste water is polluted chemicals used include sodium sulphide, manner. When the Hon’ble Supreme Court in terms of biological oxygen demand chromium sulphate, ammonium sulphide, of India directed the tanneries of Calcutta (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) ammonium chloride etc. Four metals be located beyond the city limits so as to and concentration of suspended solids, lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium are reduce pollution in the residential areas, the sulphide and chromium. among the ten chemicals most commonly creation of the Leather Complex became • Solid waste: The major solid wastes found at hazardous-waste sites (Hill, imperative. generated consist of wet trimmings, dry 2004). The direct discharge of these During 1997-2003 the State Government trimmings, wet shaving, buffing etc. wastes tends to contaminate the ground acquired a 445 hectare plot at a cost of Rs.18 During handling of raw skin which is and surface water with dangerously high crore with an initial project cost of Rs.158 contaminated with blood, hair, dirt and concentration of cadmium, chromium, crore to develop the infrastructure of CLC at certain type of bacteria is removed and arsenic and lead. Pesticides are often Bantala. The CLC was finally inaugurated dumped. The main problem with the added for hide conservation during on June 30, 2005. Over 400 old tanneries waste is their high chromium content. transportation. The remnants of pesticides were allotted land in this new complex. A • Gaseous emissions: In tanneries air and effluents containing harmful chemicals number of new tanneries have come up emissions are produced from the stacks are indiscriminately disposed in water and here. All processed and domestic waste of boilers and generators and during the soil without treatment or recycling. water from the tanneries are treated in a

84 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 Most of the Indian rivers and other Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP). sources of fresh water are polluted by The treated effluent is then discharged into industrial wastes or effluents (Khullar, the Karaidanga Storm water flow. The 2009). With solid wastes representing up chromium bearing effluent is separately to 70 per cent of the wet weight of the treated and chromium is recovered for reuse original hides, the tanning process comes in the process. The land use pattern in CLC at a considerable strain on water treatment is as follows: installations. Tanning of hides is carried • Tanneries: 202 acres out with chromium sulphate at pH 3.5-4.0. • Leather goods units/ footwear units/ After tanning the solution is discharged in manufacturing units: 72.57 acres drains. In the conventional chrome tanning • Raw material Mart, Chemical units, By- process 20-40 per cent of the chromium Product Units: 61.30 acres used is discharged in water as hazardous • Public Utility Area viz. Hospital, substances. The waste water with a low pH Housing, School etc.: 67.17 acres is corrosive to water carrying systems and • Special Economic Zone (SEZ): 110 can lead to metal dissolving in the water. acres • IT Park: 130 acres. Destination of Tanneries--The Calcutta A total of 438 relocating tanneries have Leather Complex (CLC) received lease hold land at the Calcutta The Government of West Bengal conceived Leather Complex and 138 new tanneries the Calcutta Leather Complex project in have purchased land directly from the the early 90s of the last century. It was BOT party at market rate. Out of these, planned as an integrated complex, housing 365 relocating and 98 new tanneries have all activities relating to the leather industry received NOC for Consent to Establish in a modern and environment-friendly from WBPCB. Out of the 365 relocating manner. When the Hon’ble Supreme Court tanneries, 222 relocating tanneries have of India directed the tanneries of Calcutta received NOC for Consent to Operate. 71 be located beyond the city limits so as to out of 98 new tanneries have also received reduce pollution in the residential areas, the NOC for Consent to Operate. creation of the Leather Complex became imperative. Industrial Pollution Control Measures During 1997-2003 the State Government adopted by the Pollution Control Board acquired a 445 hectare plot at a cost of Rs.18 The rapid industrial expansion in West crore with an initial project cost of Rs.158 Bengal has given rise to significant pressure crore to develop the infrastructure of CLC at on the environment. The industrial units Bantala. The CLC was finally inaugurated have now become major point sources of on June 30, 2005. Over 400 old tanneries pollution. One of the major mandates of were allotted land in this new complex. A the West Bengal Pollution Control Board number of new tanneries have come up (WBPCB), therefore, is to reduce industrial here. All processed and domestic waste emission or effluent generation, and to water from the tanneries are treated in a control the quality of the same within safe

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 | 85 limits. Under the provisions of the Water through negotiated agreements and technical (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, guidance. Under the current sitting policy 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of the Board, the Red industries are not of Pollution) Act, 1981, any industry, permitted in Kolkata Metropolitan Area operation or process or an extension (KMA) areas, and Orange industries are not and addition thereto, which is likely to permitted in Kolkata Municipal Corporation discharge sewerage or trade effluent into (KMC) and Municipal Corporation the environment or likely to emit any air (HMC) areas, except the industrial estates pollution into the atmosphere will have of KMC and HMC. This policy does not to obtain consent from the State Pollution permit a few water-intensive and highly Control Board. There are different types of polluting industrial units having high water consent issued under the provisions of the consumption within 10-km radius of the Water Act and the Air Act: Calcutta Leather Complex at Bantala. • Consent for Establishment: All the industries and activities needing consent Major Findings must obtain Consent for Establishment From the study conducted on the residents of before actual commencement of work the area it was found that 70 per cent of them for establishing the industry / activity. live in the area for more than five years. They • Consent for Operation: This consent, suffer from various symptoms of pollution. which is valid for certain duration of They have complained a number of times time, needs to be taken before actual to the local civic authorities and to various commencement of production. The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Consent for Operation is renewed after regarding their problems without any result. a certain period of time. The local residents have been satisfied with the performance of NGOs to some extent. Industrial Categorization and Policy for According to the local people, they are Site Selection most dissatisfied with the problem of solid According to the Pollution Control Board the Red category units have maximum pollution potential, the Orange category units have moderate pollution potential and the Green units have the least pollution potential. Further, considering the degree of pollution among the Red units, these are classified into ‘Special Red’ and ‘Ordinary Red’ categories. In addition, a few units under the Green category with no pollution potential are classified as ‘Exempted’ category units. The WBPCB ensures that compliance to environmental standards is attained

86 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 through negotiated agreements and technical waste which is disposed along the streets Suggested Remedial Measures guidance. Under the current sitting policy and in open vats (Fig.6). The non-recycled Based on field investigation and pollution of the Board, the Red industries are not chromium rich water is drained out in open related data available, some remedial permitted in Kolkata Metropolitan Area drains and in nearby water bodies. In certain measures have been suggested which could (KMA) areas, and Orange industries are not parts of Tangra the solid waste is cleared by improve the condition of the tanneries- permitted in Kolkata Municipal Corporation Kolkata Municipal Corporation from open i) The tanneries should develop an (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation vats or sometimes the wastes are collected environment management system to (HMC) areas, except the industrial estates directly from the factories. The residents of control the intensity of pollution. of KMC and HMC. This policy does not the area were of the opinion that chances of ii) The workers should be trained to permit a few water-intensive and highly child labour in hazardous tanneries are quite avoid occupational hazards and must polluting industrial units having high water high. The NGOs and KMC have taken steps be provided with adequate safety consumption within 10-km radius of the for clearance of hazardous waste from the measures like gloves, nose masks, boots, Calcutta Leather Complex at Bantala. area with effective results in some parts of aprons etc. Gaseous masks are the most the area. important safety measure in order to Major Findings The study conducted on the workers prevent inhalation of fumes which must From the study conducted on the residents of has revealed that they too suffer from be given to unskilled workers as well. the area it was found that 70 per cent of them health hazards from the wastes generated iii) Proper arrangement should be live in the area for more than five years. They and during the processing of raw hides and made regarding disposal of wastes. suffer from various symptoms of pollution. skins. The acid and the chemical used in the Indiscriminate disposal of non-recycled They have complained a number of times factories often lead to skin problems and waste must be avoided. to the local civic authorities and to various corrosion of the skin. The acid used here iv) Measures need to be taken immediately Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) sometimes cause skin burning. Inadequacy for reuse of chromium discharged in the regarding their problems without any result. of the safety measures especially concerning tanning effluent. The local residents have been satisfied with use of the gloves has aggravated the problem. v) Labours should come under Life the performance of NGOs to some extent. The tanneries in the area are prone to fire Insurance Policy and Mediclaim. According to the local people, they are hazards as well. The area has witnessed vi) All tanneries should come under the most dissatisfied with the problem of solid some of the worse outbreaks of fire in recent purview of Environmental Impact years; since the tanneries use inflammable Assessment (EIA) followed by raw materials and availability of fire necessary action. fighting equipments are also inadequate. Fire hazards have sometimes proved to be Conclusion worse, threatening the lives of the workers. The municipal wards of 65, 66, 67 and Apart from inadequacy of the fire fighting 108 have quite dense urban residential equipments the other problem is regarding agglomeration where the location of the maintenance of equipments. Often illegal tanneries has posed a threat on the the fire extinguishers are not properly health of the residents. Apart from the maintained and thus become outdated. Tiljala and Topsia, a part of Dhapa area The problem of outdated machineries has is also noted for illegal tanneries and a also cropped up in recent years. This has number of other polluting units like rubber, resulted in decrease in output as well as the plastic and chemicals. The tanneries have occurrence of industrial accidents. contributed largely to the area’s pollution

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 1, 2016 | 87 and environmental degradation. Attempts Nazmul, I. (1994): Effect of intensive cultivation have been made for creating awareness and industrial wastes on some soil among workers to control pollution. A characteristics and plant growth. Dhaka: number of steps have been initiated by University of Dhaka the Governmental authorities regarding Pradhan, G., Barik, K. (1998): Fluctuating total up gradation of environment in the area factor productivity in India: Evidence from and also for protection of workers against selected polluting industries. Mumbai: health hazards. Thus what is required in Economic and Pol. Weekly, Vol.33, Issue these areas is the development of sound no.9 Industrial Ecology (IE) which will provide a Shen, T.T. (1999): Industrial Pollution foundation for sustainable industrialization. Prevention, 2nd.edition. Germany: Springer A corollary objective of IE is the repair of United Nations Industrial Development past environmental damage and restoration Organization (2005): Cost of Tanned Waste of ecosystems (Wang et.al, 2004). Treatment. Leon: 15th session of the Leather and Leather products Industry Panel Acknowledgement Wang, L.K., Hung, Y.T., Lo, H.H., Yapijakis, The authors are grateful to Prof. Sukla C. ed. (2004): Handbook of Industrial and Bhaduri, Department of Geography, Hazardous Wastes Treatment. New York: University of Calcutta for her valuable Marcel Dekker Inc. inputs and suggestions for giving this article a final shape. Anandita Dawn Senior Research Fellow Department of Geography References University of Calcutta Hill, M. (2004): Understanding Environmental [email protected] Pollution. Cambridge: Cambridge Ranjan Basu University Press Professor Khullar, D.R. (2009): India: A Comprehensive Department of Geography Geography. New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers University of Calcutta Markowitz, G., Rosner, D. (2012): Deceit and [email protected] Denial: The deadly politics of Industrial Pollution. California: University of California Press

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