The Uttar Pradesh government is seeking to restore the industrial charm of Kanpur, also known as the ‘Manchester of the East’. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government is developing a Mega Leather Park, the first leather park in the country, as part of the Mega Leather Cluster Project in Kanpur spread over an area of 235 acres. The park project is aimed at reestablishing Kanpur as the textile hub and leather city.
Kanpur was called 'Manchester of the East' because of its textile industry and was also referred to as 'Leather City' due to the presence of a large number of leather factories. However, the state government claimed that the rise in pollution, technological changes in the textile industry and neglect of the previous governments made the city lose its sheen, turning into one of the most polluted cities of the country.
The mega leather park project, which will be built in Ramaipur village in Kanpur, will help improve Kanpur's position among the ten largest leather-producing states of the country. Under the Mega Leather Cluster Project, 50,000 people will get direct employment at the park while 150,000 people will get indirect employment, the state government said.
