Kolkata Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed authorities to take immediate steps to tackle pollution and cleanliness issues at the Bantala Leather Complex, also known as Sector VI. During a surprise appearance at a high-level meeting at the state secretariat, she instructed the tannery association to expedite the handover of Sector VI to the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) to ensure proper waste management infrastructure.
Nabanna sources confirmed that Banerjee personally intervened in the meeting, urging KMDA officials to accelerate the handover process.
The KMDA has been assigned the responsibility of developing necessary infrastructure for solid and liquid waste management to mitigate the rising pollution concerns in the area.
State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister & KMDA Chairman Firhad Hakim, Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan, Chief Minister’s Special Adviser on Finance Amit Mitra, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, and senior officials from multiple departments were present during the meeting.
Expressing concerns over unlawful activities in the region, Banerjee instructed Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma to adopt a zero-tolerance policy to ensure law and order are maintained within the complex. This move aims to create a safer and more efficient environment for businesses operating in the sector.
The Bantala Leather Complex, already a major hub for the leather and footwear industry, is set to undergo massive expansion. Plans are in place for:
- 148 new tanneries to be established in Sector VI, contributing to its status as Asia’s largest leather complex.
- 138 footwear units to form a dedicated footwear park, covering 62 acres of land.
- An expected investment of Rs 10,000 crore, generating employment opportunities for 2.5 lakh people.
The leather complex, popularly known as Karmadiganta, already houses 500 tanneries and leather goods manufacturing units, spanning 1,150 acres of land. It currently employs around 5 lakh people and has attracted investments worth Rs 25,000 crore. This makes it a crucial contributor to West Bengal’s economy, with significant potential for further growth.
