The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CLRI hailed as role model in public-private partnership

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

CLRI hailed as role model in public-private partnership

Special Correspondent

Its efforts at bio-processing of leather are commendable, says Barnala

CHENNAI: Lauding the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for serving as a "role model in public-private partnership," Governor Surjit Singh Barnala on Tuesday said the close association of the CLRI and the leather industry served as a model for other manufacturing sectors.

Inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of the CLRI, Chennai, he said the CLRI's initiative to reach out was commendable.

Mr. Barnala said he was happy to learn that India enjoyed a special position in fashion forecasting in leather, and it was possible because of the initiative of the CLRI and the inherent strength of the Indian leather sector.

"The transformation and growth of the leather industry has led to environmental concerns due to non-compliance with pollution control norms. Through the technology plan of the CLRI, implemented in close coordination with the All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, 480 tanneries in Tamil Nadu were saved from closure through viable technology solutions.

The CLRI made commendable efforts at bio-processing of leather. While globally, chemical alternatives were still being sought after for leather processing, the CLRI's effort to use enzymes and bio-resources in processing leather was a breakthrough. Thanks to the efforts of a network of 12 research and development institutions, this had become possible. "Let me wish you all success in your endeavours in converting this breakthrough into implementation at the field level", the Governor said.

Mr. Barnala gave away scholarships and certificates to research scholars and patent developers.

T. Ramasami, Director-General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Union Department of Science and Technology, who presided, appealed to scientists to rededicate themselves to nation building and take the CLRI to greater heights.

A.B. Mandal, Director, CLRI, outlined the growth of the institution with a strong foundation laid by founder-director B.M. Das and Y. Nayudamma and A.L. Mudaliar.

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