A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has praised Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for the effective functioning of common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) linked to the leather industry.
The committee, chaired by Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen, submitted three reports to Parliament. In its observations, it said CETPs in the two states are operating well and that both have emerged as models in the leather sector and in maintaining treatment facilities.
In Tamil Nadu, the committee noted that 13 CETPs are functioning well, while excluding the facilities in Tiruchy and Perundurai from this assessment. In West Bengal, it said the state’s single operating treatment plant is also running efficiently.
The reports also highlighted that the “National Single Window System” in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal has made it easier to do business in the leather sector by enabling timely approvals needed for CETPs to function effectively. The committee said this supports sector growth, job creation and exports, while ensuring industrial wastewater is treated properly and the environment is protected.
Based on these findings, the committee recommended that the concerned ministry encourage all states to implement an efficient single-window mechanism and follow the examples of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to balance industrial growth with environmental sustainability.
