Kanpur: Anguished with closure of the tanneries the owners appear extremely disappointed. Some of them even are trying to find other occupation for the livelihood. They are concerned at the longevity of the leather business which had been started by their ancestors in Jajmau area of the city.
As regards the flow of tanneries' discharge into the river Ganga they in a very clear tone maintain that they are not the culprits. They pay the user charge for sending the discharge into the plant.
They pointed out the tanneries' effluents discharge was nine MLD prior to the closure order but how had it doubled now? Even no tannery was blamed for releasing effluent directly into the river.
What was more often blamed by them was the JAL Nigam's approach. It spent a sum of Rs 18 Lakh for repairs but the problem was not solved. Sisamau and other nullahs were diverted towards Jajmau.
JAL Nigam's and UPPCB exchange blame on each other. Sewage through Wajidpur Nullah still flows into the river. Tapping is not done property. Bags were placed on the mouth of the nullah. Owing to heavy force the bags get swept away.
Sometimes, as the JAL Nigam's manager Ghanshyam Dwivedi puts it the villagers remove the bags due to unbearable stinks.
A few rural people like Rakesh, Ajay, Ranjan and others said that bags were displaced and sewage flows stealthily into the nullah. The tanneries owners were overheard saying they were being punished for faults of others.
A massive stir was recently seen on Jajmau area. They staged jam on the road to protest power disconnection of the tanneries under the order of the state government. The District Magistrate assured them no power cut would be done till the completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
