Export-oriented leather units allowed to function

KANPUR: The industries department of the state government on Friday gave green signal to export-oriented leather industries of the city to start production in their units, subject to the condition that they will comply with the safety advisory issued by the district administration.
The industries department made it clear that this relief has been given to shoe, belt, purse, saddlery and other leather goods manufacturing units.
The leather industry was awaiting green signal from the government for the last couple of days. The leather goods manufacturers were hopeful that they too would get a nod to run their units which are closed since the lockdown. Despite several requests made by the leather goods manufacturers to the officials of the district administration officials and the industries department, the latter refused to allow them to start their units.
The state government, which had recently categorized the locked down areas into green, orange and red zones, asked the units, manufacturing essential commodities, to run their units after giving a declaration to the district administration this week. The leather goods manufacturing units too had applied for the permission.
Asad Iraqi, general secretary, Leather Industries Welfare Association, said that out of around 100 export-oriented leather goods manufacturing units in Jajmau area of the city, the district industries centre (DIC) has issued work order letters to around 20 units on Friday. Other units too would get the work orders in a couple of days.
“Almost all units have completed preparations for manufacturing products. Hopefully, production would begin from Monday,” Iraqi added.
Joint commissioner, industries, Sarveshwar Shukla, said, “The department has given conditional permission to export-oriented leather firms. Tanneries have not been included in it”. The units, which comes in the ambit of export-oriented leather goods manufacturing units, could start production, he added.
Meanwhile, several traders’ associations have urged the government and the district administration officials to open all markers in the city the way they had permitted liquor vendors to open their shops.