Polluting Turag: DoE shuts operation of 8 plants

The Department of Environment yesterday stopped operations of eight illegal garment washing plants in the capital's Mirpur area for polluting the water of Turag and the environment.

DoE Director (environment) Rubina Ferdousi, of the monitoring and enforcement wing, led a drive against garment washing plants without environmental clearance certificate and effluent treatment plant, said a DoE press release.

The department stopped the operations of Modern Washing Ltd, Meghna Washing Plant (Unit-1 and 2), Lalon Washing Plant, Persona Washing Plant, Bhai Bhai Washing Plant and two unnamed washing factories by disconnecting their electricity supply.

Apart from them, MM Accessories, an export-oriented packaging factory, was fined Tk 2 lakh for operating without environmental clearance, the press release said.

Kazi Tamjeed Ahmed, executive magistrate of DoE, also fined Bandhu Design Fashion Tk 10,000 and ordered seizure of 250kg of illegal polythene during a mobile court drive.

According to the DoE, a number of garment washing plants without ETP were illegally operating in Boxnagar and Eastern Housing areas of Mirpur-1.

Although the DoE warned them more than once, they did not obtain their environmental clearances or take any steps to control environmental pollution.

The unrefined liquid waste generated from these factories was being discharged into the Turag through drains and sewerage lines.

The DoE also mentioned that following a writ petition, the High Court declared the Turag a living entity/legal person and directed the authorities concerned to free the river from all kinds of pollution and encroachment.

The drive was conducted to comply with the HC order.

Locals expressed satisfaction over the closure of illegal factories, the DoE press release added.

Rubina Ferdousi said the DoE would continue its drive against the polluters following its director general's directives.