The tanneries of Kolkata worked without any pollution control in Tangra, Topsia and Tiljala. Supreme Court ordered the industry to shut down. The State Government had to be sensitized, The Supreme Court had to be convinced, above all the industry had to be motivated to move. Against several attacks, threat and attempts on his life, Kumar handled the largest relocation project of any industry in Asia successfully to Karaidanga, as per the orders of the court, freeing the city of the pollution. Mr. Kumar was the National Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports during the tumultuous time. He was recognised by Italian Government with a knighthood in 2006. The Calcutta Leather Complex proudly stands today with pollution control plants in place. He heads the Board of Governors of the Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology, Kolkata. Kumar also is an ace photographer, poet, writer and a social worker.
