Editorial
Relocation of chemical depots
Act on task force recommendations
SOME 10 months after the devastating fire from a chemical warehouse and about eight months after the formation of a taskforce to find out means to stop recurrence of such incidents, the government seems to be swinging into action. It has decided to relocate chemical depots and factories from their present locations to the other side of the Buriganga.
There are some 1000 chemical factories and warehouses in the city, and of them, only 127 have any licences whatsoever.
We must thank our stars that Nimtoli-like tragedies have not occurred so far. But the situation is much more serious than the concern we have shown in taking a prompt decision on shifting such hazardous establishments away from the city centres.
Earlier, especially after the Nimtoli fire tragedy we had advised the government on more than one occasion to take immediate measures to remove these factories from within the heart of the city. But as usual the bureaucratic machinery took this long to take such an important
decision.
The long delay notwithstanding, we commend the government for having taken a firm decision after all to relocate the warehouses of flammable chemicals as well as the plastic factories that use such flammable chemicals to a designated spot outside the city.
The task force on whose recommendations two committees have been formed tasked with relocation and rehabilitation of the chemical warehouses and factories, has also stressed intensification of the drives against such illegal establishments in the city. As recommended, the government should not delay in launching such drive. And as in every other case of drive by the law-enforcers to carry out any government or statutory order, utmost care will be necessary to ensure that the enforcers of the law remain above board and incorruptible.
The committee constituted to see through the relocation process will be expected to complete the job within a specific time frame.
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