Contamination of a significant river basin due to India's tannery sector
The Palar River basin, home to a significant portion of India's leather industry, continues to struggle with severe pollution despite a January 2022 Supreme Court ruling that held tanneries accountable for "irreversible damage" to the river, groundwater, and agricultural lands.
Following the ruling, the Supreme Court mandated compensation for affected families, the enforcement of the "polluter pays" principle, and the creation of an environmental commission to oversee compliance and assess damages. This commission has already started surveys to evaluate impacts on local communities.
However, pollution from tanneries persists. The river basin, which houses 449 tanneries contributing about 35% of India’s leather exports, discharges approximately 20 million liters of mostly untreated effluent daily, along with 100,000 tonnes of salt annually. This untreated discharge heavily contaminates the drinking water supply for 50 villages and 30 towns and renders farmland infertile for crops, with pollution penetrating deep into the soil.
Environmental activists and local residents criticise the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for inadequate enforcement, noting that it primarily issues legal warnings rather than taking stringent actions against polluting tanneries. The effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement thus remains a significant concern, raising doubts about how fully the Supreme Court's orders are being implemented.
The ongoing contamination also poses serious health risks to residents and workers. Cases of fatal exposure to toxic fumes in tannery operations have been reported, highlighting the human cost behind leather production linked to global supply chains.
In an effort to address the issue, the court also mandated the creation of an environmental commission to oversee compliance of its ruling. However, concerns remain about the TNPCB's ability to effectively enforce regulations and take action against polluting tanneries.
The problem has significant local and global implications due to exports and international leather supply chains. Both domestic and international buyers are urged to ensure cleaner production practices in their supply chains.
Chromium, a key component in leather processing, is among the most dangerous contaminants, contributing to respiratory diseases, skin ulcers, kidney malfunction, and lung cancer. In polluted areas, chromium VI levels can reach 3000-3500 mg/litre, well above the safe limit of 50 mg/litre.
As the situation stands in mid-2025, while there is hope from the Supreme Court's ruling and steps taken to monitor and enforce regulations, the ongoing pollution from tanneries in the Palar River basin continues to be a major environmental and public health challenge.
The Palar River basin, a significant hub for India's leather industry, is still grappling with severe pollution after a January 2022 Supreme Court ruling, despite holding tanneries accountable for environmental damage. The ruling mandated compensation for affected families, enforcement of the "polluter pays" principle, and creation of an environmental commission for compliance and damage assessment.
However, tannery pollution persists, with the river basin discharging billions of liters of untreated effluent daily and thousands of tonnes of salt annually, heavily contaminating drinking water supplies and rendering farmland infertile.
Environmental activists and locals criticize the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for inadequate enforcement, primarily issuing warnings rather than taking stringent actions against polluting tanneries.
The ongoing pollution poses serious health risks, with fatal exposure to toxic fumes reported in tannery operations. Chromium, a key component in leather processing, is among the most dangerous contaminants, causing respiratory diseases, skin ulcers, kidney malfunction, and lung cancer.
The Supreme Court also mandated the creation of an environmental commission to oversee compliance, but concerns remain about the TNPCB's ability to effectively enforce regulations. International leather supply chains are impacted due to exports from the contaminated area.
Both domestic and international buyers are urged to ensure cleaner production practices in their supply chains, considering the severity of the environmental and public health challenge posed by the ongoing pollution in the Palar River basin.
