Tannery relocation riddle
RELOCATION of some 155 tanneries from Hazaribagh area of Dhaka city has been on the cards since its approval by ECNEC in 2003. A revised relocation development project was however approved in 2007. Thus in effect, six years down the line, we are still talking about relocation. The continued bickering over cost sharing of central effluent treatment plant (CETP) between government and Bangladesh Tannery Association is dumbfounding, especially since the land and utility services have been provided by the State. Meanwhile the foot dragging tactic by the industry has helped shoot up relocation costs by nearly double the original amount.
The question today is why are we even having discussion on the subject of moving this hazardous industry out of the heart of Dhaka? Several studies including one published in 'International Journal of Environmental Science and Development' in April, 2012 pointed out: "Hazaribagh consists of more than 200 tanneries generating an approximately 7.7million litre 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, 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."
Despite being armed with studies and the recent threat by European Union to stop purchasing Bangladeshi leather goods unless CETP is made functional, it has without doubt become unconscionable that the government isn't fast tracking relocation in the interest of protecting public health and a billion-dollar export industry per annum.
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