Positive outcomes of tannery relocation
We are pleasantly surprised to know that the condition of the local water bodies of Hazaribagh have started improving following the relocation of the tanneries from the area. A picture published in The Daily Star yesterday shows a thin stream flowing through the once severely clogged Hazaribagh canal. Tests conducted by the Department of Environment (DoE) also indicate that the water quality of the nearby Buriganga River is improving due to the halting of pollution by Hazaribagh tanneries. This is great news indeed. There is, however, a lot more that needs to be done to revive the lifeline of the city, the Buriganga.
Following the same principle of relocating polluting tanneries, the authorities should now prevent other industries located in the capital from discharging wastes into the Buriganga River and the water bodies connected to it as has been reported in this paper. The authorities must ensure installation of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and their effective usage in these industries.
Encroachment of the river is another major concern. A large number of factories and houses are being built virtually on the Buriganga River. Most worryingly, as the tanneries are being shifted from Hazaribagh, fresh encroachments are happening in the area. This nullifies the government's efforts to save the river. It goes without saying that the government must take stringent measures to stop such illegal activities that will revert the river's condition back to what it was.
Finally, the authorities should keep in mind that as the river is a total ecosystem, any partial solution will not be effective. They should address the issue holistically and enforce regular vigilance of further encroachment.
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