Parliamentary body orders tannery relocation

It is heartening to see the parliamentary standing committee on environment and the ministry collaborating on the relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar. With clear directive from the ministry the Department of Environment (DoE) has its work cut out. There should be no further ambiguity or foot-dragging on this ongoing saga that has dragged on literally for a number of years. Despite being issued several notices, tannery owners till date have largely ignored notices to relocate to Savar where the government has allocated land along with utility services.
The authorities have been working on the central effluent treatment plant, but all other amenities including industrial plots are ready. It is astonishing to note that four years have elapsed since the High Court ordered relocation of all tanneries to Savar. The fact that an area of 200 acres in Savar have been allotted free of cost has failed to motivate even a single factory owner relocate
is not only morally reprehensible, but should be
legally a “contempt of court”. According to a recent Environmental Impact Assessment Study published in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Development in April, 2012 “Hazaribagh, which is the largest tannery region in Bangladesh consists of more than 200 tanneries generate an approximate 7.7million litres of liquid waste and 88million tons of solid waste ever day. The direct discharge of these wastes has contaminated the ground and surface water with dangerously high concentrations of chromium, as well as cadmium, arsenic and lead. The contamination of rivers also allows these pollutants to accumulate in common fish and shellfish species, which are used as local food sources”.
This is not the only study on what havoc untreated tannery effusion has caused to residents of Dhaka. We find it deplorable that the authorities have failed to address the situation despite the HC ruling in 2009. What is even more astounding is that authorities continue to let this stalemate continue despite having ample evidence that support the contribution Hazaribagh tanneries have made to environmental damage to both eco-systems of the Buriganga River and food chain. The situation has become both unbearable and unconscionable and government must act to defend public health.
For how long will our environment, our rivers, the soil and underground water, be destroyed with impunity? For how long will our courts be flouted and legal system be made a mockery of? The situation is desperate and urgent decisive government action is called for.