The shutting of the tanneries in east Kolkata has spawned a financial crisis for the workers. In a fire-fighting measure, officials of the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) and Union industry ministry recently met functionaries of the West Bengal government and city tanners to frame a "cleaner production strategy' that would sustain the industry till the shifting was effected.

The CLRI is preparing a proposal for a "quantitative reduction in the pollution load' generated by the tanneries. Its main objectives are:

• Reducing the salt used in the tanning process

• Substituting the synthetic tanning agents with ecofriendly chemicals

• Using an economical, mobile chrome-recovery technology

• Recycling water on a large scale