Utility connections of two factories snapped

Environment department yesterday snapped utility connections of a dying factory and a spinning factory set up illegally in the protected Gazipur Bhawal National Forest for not paying the monetary penalty imposed on it the previous day.
Department of Environment (DoE) fined One Denim Ltd, a dying factory, and One Spinning Mill Ltd, a spinning factory, Tk 4.54 crore for setting up the factories without environmental clearance, causing damages to biodiversity, soil and trees.
Management of the factories made an undertaking to pay Tk1.51 crore of the fines yesterday.
Titas Gas and Palli Bidyut Samity officials cutoff the connections to the factories in presence of DoE executive magistrate for failure to pay the fine, said DoE Director Mohammad Munir Chowdhury.
There is no provision to give utility connection to a factory established without environmental clearance, he said.
Munir said the factories were established in Araisha Prosad mouja, a part of the forest's core area, defying a government ban. The factories have destroyed wildlife habitat and left an adverse impact on the overall environment, he said.
The government declared Araisha Prosad, Bonkharia, Baroipara, Uttar Salna, Bishayakuribari, Bawpara, Bahadurpur, Mohanabhabanipur moujas in the forest as off-limit for construction of any house or any type of industrial structures in 1999, even if there is any private land.
One Denim occupies 8.75 acres of the forest land while One Spinning13 acres of land.