Leather ‘cottage industry’ shuts down in locality

Kolkata: Leather goods units, a ‘cottage industry' in the Tiljala-Topsia belt, have downed shutters in the accident para, known for unregulated tanneries and other manufacturing. Many small factories operating out of residential buildings in the neighbourhoods remained shut on Thursday as fear spread among owners and workers following the administration's demolition drive in the area after Tuesday's fatal fire.Several production units along GJ Khan Road, East Topsia Road and Dr BN Dey Road either remained closed or operated with reduced staff as owners waited to see whether further action would follow against units functioning from residential buildings. According to sources, maximum manufacturing units, including tanneries, had been operating in the areas without any compliance with fire safety norms."We eke out a living by working in these units. If these units are pulled down, where shall we go? Our owner has informed us that closure of the factory will continue until situation becomes normal," said Sk Afroz, a worker of a local factory. Asked about fire safety issues, he said, "Most of the small factories operate from residential buildings and we have become used to it. There is a single staircase and in case of any emergency, running out of the building will be a challenge."The fire broke out on Tuesday inside a leather goods manufacturing unit functioning on the first floor of a residential building on GJ Khan Road, killing two labourers and injuring several others. Demolition of the building began on Wednesday after the administration said the structure was illegal and lacked mandatory safety clearances. Since then, apprehension has spread across the Tiljala-Topsia belt, where numerous small factories and workshops operate from mixed-use or residential buildings.On Thursday, several units that make footwear and bags remained shut. Workers gathered in small groups near crossings and tea stalls, discussing the ongoing crackdown. "We did not open today because nobody knows what will happen next," said an owner of a small manufacturing unit near East Topsia Road. Another factory worker said many owners had asked employees not to report for work until there was more clarity about the administration's next steps. "Some units opened partially on Wednesday, but more stayed shut today," said the factory worker.The Tiljala-Topsia stretch is lined with eateries, departmental stores and shops selling white goods, tiles and household items. Behind the commercial facades, however, several residential buildings house small manufacturing units, storage facilities and workshops, residents said. Police and central forces personnel cordoned off the area on Thursday as demolition work continued. Shops in some stretches had reopened, though business activity remained thinner than usual.Locals alleged that many such units function without proper trade licences and other mandatory permissions. Residents said the practice had increased over the years as commercial activity expanded in the area. "Factories are operating inside residential buildings across many lanes here," said Mohammad Islam, a resident of Dr BN Dey Road. "People have been raising concerns for years about safety and overcrowding."