Srinagar, Dec 7: Minister for Industries and Commerce, S S Slathia today inaugurated a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora, Pulwama.
 With a capacity to process and treat 600 kilo litre/day effluent, the CETP has been set up at the Leather Park carved at the Industrial Growth Centre to promote leather industry.
 Speaking on the occasion, Slathia said that in view of the availability of an estimated three million goat/sheep skins annually, there is a great scope for promotion of leather industry in J&K.
 He said that almost entire raw material at present is being exported from the state for proceeding and conversion into various leather products and high value added items.
 “The establishment of CETP within the leather park carved out of a portion of the Industry Growth Centre, Lassipora will go a long way in promotion of leather industry which is not only labour intensive, but has immense export potential as well,” he said.
 The minister said that few leather units were already functional in the leather park, while land has been allotted to three more entrepreneurs who were on way to initiate the operation of their projects.
 “With the establishment of CETP many more entrepreneurs, both from within and outside the state would get attracted  to invest in the State leather industry thereby contributing to the economical development”, the Minister hoped.
 He also assured that the environment concerns should be addressed and strict compliance to the pollution control norms be ensured by the unit holders.
 Managing Director, SIDCO, M Muazzam while giving details of the project said that facility has been created under the technical guidance and supervision of Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), a Chennai-based government of India organization.
 He said the project had been completed with the financial assistance by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India under ASIDE scheme at a cost of   Rs. 642 lakh.
 On the benefits of the newly created unit, he said while the primary treatment of the effluents was the responsibility of the individual unit holders, the secondary and tertiary treatment of the effluents would be taken care through the CETP and it was endeavour of the Corporation to provide prompt and effective services on this account.
 He said that in its attempt to safeguard the environmental concerns, the SIDCO had initiated a substantial plantation drive within the Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora.
 District Development Commissioner,   Shafat Noor Balras, Director, I&C Kashmir   Mehraj-ud-Din Keenu, General Manager SIDCO Kashmir Region, S. R. Qadri and senior officials of PDD, Pollution Control Board, Revenue department were also present at the inaugural function.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 6 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 6 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST