CCEA approves cost estimates for CETP project

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The revised cost estimates for the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) project at Calcutta Leather Complex, Kolkata was approved today by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Accordingly, the 135.44 crore under Ganga Action Plan Phase -II as part of the ongoing umbrella scheme of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest will be implemented on a cost sharing basis in the ratio of 50:50 between the Centre and West Bengal government.

The CCEA had earlier approved the CETP project at CLC at an indicative cost of Rs 65 crore in 1995 for treating the waste of about 30 Million Liters per day (MLD) of trade effluents from more than 500 tanneries relocated from three clusters namely Tangra, Tiljala and Topsia in Kolkata with an installed capacity to process about 850 tonnes of hides/skins per day. The project not only envisages re-use of chromium and safe disposal of hazardous solid wastes generated at CLC essential to meet the current environmental norms. Proper operation and maintenance of the assets created under the project as well as relocation of industries to the new modern site at CLC in time bound manner is the responsibility of the state government.

The project will not only result in minimising the pollution of river Ganga but also lead to improvement of the general environment in the city and prevent danger of groundwater pollution caused by the tanneries. Setting up of modern and environment friendly comlex is expected to help operation of tanners, traders and buyers of leather goods under a single roof resulting in integrated growth of the leather industry and export of the products to international markets. The works under the project are scheduled to be completed by march 2010.

UNI