(This story originally appeared in on Feb 02, 2015)

The Kanpur district administration snapped power supply to 98 tanneries in Jajmau amidst tight security on the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). In a high-level meeting held in Lucknow on Saturday, chief secretary Alok Ranjan had cleared the decks for the action.President of Small Tanners Accociation Hafiz-Ur-Rehman said that the action would render 5,000 people jobless and accused Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) of corrupt practice and harassment. Five days back, the board had issued notice for the closure of these tanneries. Rehman said that the affected tanners would present their viewpoint before NGT in New Delhi on Monday.Additional District Magistrate, Kanpur, (city) Avinash Singh said that National Green Tribunal (NGT) had recently sent a team comprising central and state pollution board officials to examine the tanneries in Kanpur and the status of pollution of the river.Consequently, State Pollution Control Board filed a report. Based on the report the state authorities asked the district administration to ensure closure of 98 tanneries named in the report. The administration initiated the closure process by cutting power and water supply, officials said. The ADM said that these tanneries did not install Chromium Recovery Plant despite warning. Majority of tanneries in Kanpur use chromium for treating leather.Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board, Kanpur, T U Khan said that a report would be sent to NGT once the process of closure of tanneries was completed. No relief would be granted to the tanneries that failed to comply with the rules, Khan said.Kesco spokesperson R D Pandey said that seven teams had been formed to conduct the task of disconnecting power. On the request of tannery owners that workers stay inside the factory, temporary power supply was provided to them.