The Andhra Pradesh state government has decided to remove leather tanning activity at the proposed Krishnapatnam International Leather Complex (KPILC) to put an end to pollution concerns of neighbouring villagers.

The project is coming up at Kothapatnam village in Kota mandal of Nellore district, in 532 acres at an investment of Rs 281 crore. The leather complex is expected to provide employment to 15,000 people. Government of India gave environment clearance in 2014 itself. Department of industrial policy and promotion cleared the project in 2016. But the project remained a non-starter due to unrelenting agitation by the residents of 10 surrounding villages.

Central government will provide Rs 125 crore grant/funding for the  project under the Mega Leather Cluster Scheme. KPILC would draw 10 million litres per day of water from the proposed 30 million litres per day (MLD) desalination plant.