In the letter, chairman Mohammad Ishaq stated that although the Uttar Pradesh accounted for 18% of the country’s total leather and leather goods exports last year, the Rs2,000 Crores figure attained was nowhere near a reflection of the state’s vast cattle population.  As a result, the development of the industry was being held back. A new 300 acre leather technology park / complex at Banthar, Unnao  was under development with assistance of government aid, he said, but without effective local air links, it too was unlikely to reach its potential.  Mohammad Ishaq put the losses to the leather industry resulting from the situation at around Rs.1500 Crore.  This was in spite of the fact that a preliminary survey had found that around 70% of all air traffic at the nearest International Airport of Lucknow, was generated by passengers and freight to and from Uttar Pradesh.  He added many multinational companies had considered investing in the city, but had been put off by the long and frequently dangerous drive to and from Lucknow.

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