Utility lines snapped for 28 holdings in Old Dhaka
Four teams of a taskforce of the government today disconnected utility connections of 28 holdings including those of Roxy Paints for housing illegal warehouses in Old Dhaka.
The taskforce teams comprising officials of 14 government agencies conducted drives in the area today for the fourth consecutive day and disconnected the utility connections without any obstacle.
With the latest, the taskforce has so far disconnected utility connections including electricity and gas of 76 establishments in Old Dhaka.
WHY THE TASKFORCE WAS FORMED?
At least 71 people were killed and scores injured in a chemical-fed fire in Churihatta of Chawkbazar area in Old Dhaka on February 20, prompting the government to act against chemical factories and warehouses there.
On February 25, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon announced that a month-long crackdown would be launched against warehouses of “dangerous chemicals”.
The drive against illegal chemical warehouses started on February 28 following the chemical-fed fire incident at Chawkbzar.
A SECTION OF TRADERS NOT YIELDING
But a section of traders in Old Dhaka barred the drives against illegal chemical warehouses on Saturday and Sunday demanding the authorities to stop the drive and giving them time to relocate their warehouses and factories.
Yesterday, they even confined the government team conducting the drive to a house for around two hours and vandalised the car of an executive engineer of Dhaka Power Distribution Company.
TODAY'S DRIVE
Today, a team led by Air Commodore Zahid Hossain, chief waste management officer of DSCC, disconnected utility lines of seven warehouses and factories including those of Roxy Paints at Nilambor Saha Road and Maneswar Road in Hazaribagh area for storing plastic and flammable chemicals.
The team disconnected gas and water connections of Roxy Paints at Hazaribagh and gave the company three days’ time to relocate their warehouse and the factory and said their electricity connection will be snapped as well otherwise.
Mahmud Ashik Kabir, assistant inspector of Department of Explosives, said the material for making paint is flammable, as they have already started relocation they gave them some time.
“Storing or using such flammable substances at factories in a residential area is banned. They [owners] were asked to relocate [their establishments] soon. As they did not do this, we have taken actions,” he added.
Mahbubur Rahman, deputy general manager of Roxy Paints, argued since they are a big market player, they need at least six months' time to relocate.
Mabub said their production will remain suspended as the taskforce disconnected their gas and water connections.
Meanwhile, another team disconnected utility lines of eight warehouses in Haranath Ghosh Road and Nanda Kumar Datta Lane for housing plastic raw materials and chemicals.
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