Relocate Dhaka tanneries this yr
Aiming to save the Buriganga river, 17 environmental organisations yesterday placed a nine-point demand, the prime one being compliance with a deal on relocating the toxic waste-producing tanneries in the capital's Hazaribagh within this year.
In line with a 2001 High Court (HC) order, the tanners signed the deal with Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation for their transfer to “Dhaka leather estate” in Savar.
The other demands include stopping encroachment on the river and properly demarcating it as per an HC order, resuming cleaning the riverbed, ensuring effluent treatment plants in factories concerned and making the inter-ministerial River Saving Taskforce more proactive.
Tanners who refuse to relocate must have their establishments shut down, said leaders of the organisations at a “citizen rally” before Jatiya Press Club.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon General Secretary Abdul Matin said the encroachment with earth was being carried out by government organisations and political leaders and activists.
Coupled with the government's apathy, previous eviction drives were lax, yielding little result, said speakers at the rally.
They said industries along the riverbank contributed to 60 percent of the river's pollution while people using the water were contracting different diseases.
The remaining organisations are Jatiya Nadi Rokkhya Andolon, Green Voice, Buriganga River-keeper, Nirapad Development Foundation, Blue Planet Initiative, Sundor Jibon, Citizen Rights Movement, Unnayan Dhara Trust, Seba, Adi Dhakabasi Forum, Puran Dhaka Paribesh Unnayan Forum, Peace, United Peoples Trust, Bangladesh Environment Engineers Association, and Dhaka Juba Foundation.
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