Scandal allegations surrounds Indian lyophilisation project
05/09/2011
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of the state of Uttar Pradesh began talking about the method, which uses low temperatures (as low as minus-40 degrees Celsius) for preservation instead of salt, in June, with suggestions that its use might become obligatory for hide traders and tanners across the state.
A senior figure in the leather industry in India, SS Kumar, got in touch with leatherbiz at the end of July to suggest that India’s hot climate and the informal environment in which many hides and skins are collected, especially in rural areas, would make the introduction of lyophilisation impractical.
More recent reports in India’s media have cast doubt upon the propriety of the initial announcements, alleging that the chairman of the CPCB, SP Gautam, was the patent-holder for the lyophilisation system and stood to gain personally from its use.
He has responded to the allegations by saying he held a 50% share of the patent, with the CPCB owning the other 50%. Mr Gautam added, however, that Jairam Ramesh, former environment minister for Uttar Pradesh had suggested he give up his stake and he insisted he had complied with this. “I withdrew my financial claims when the minister asked me to, so I have not earned a single penny,” Mr Gautam said.
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