BIWTA moves to check Turag pollution

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday sealed off seven outlets of six ready-mix concrete factories, which were polluting the Turag river near Gabtoli by discharging untreated water.
The outlets were constructed several years ago, and sediments like cement, sand and other untreated waste were being discharged into the river through these outlets, causing water pollution, said a BIWTA official.
Abul Bashar, director port of BIWTA, said they had sealed the seven outlets without penalising for this time, but if the factories again ran the outlets legal actions would be taken against the persons responsible.
He added that more drives against the polluters of four rivers surrounding the capital -- Buriganga,Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya -- would be conducted.
"We have identified more 257 outlets, which are dumping various types of waste, like that of industrial, household, clinical and tannery, into the Buriganga river," said Bashar.
He added they would soon seal those outlets too.