TN occupies prominent place in leather industries

Chennai, Apr 24: Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala today said the State is referred as a leather destination in international circles as six per cent of the world production was from the state.

Addressing the gathering at the inaguration of the Diamond Jubliee celebrations of the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) here, he said Indian leather exports have undergone a radical change from being a mere exporter of raw hides and skins to the status of an exporter of value-added leather products.

"The transformation and growth of the leather industry has led to environmental concerns due to non compliance of pollution control norms," he said.

"Through the technology, the plan of CLRI is implemented in close coordination with All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, 480 tanneries in Tamil Nadu were saved from closure through viable technology solutions," he said Lauding the performance of CLRI in tune with the vision of Pandit Nehru, he said ''Over the past 59 years, the relationship between CLRI and the industry has grown stronger transforming the industry from being traditional in nature to that of technology driven industry which has been possible through the institute."

UNI