Relocation of tanneries by 2012
The government yesterday came up with a fresh deadline for relocation of tannery industries, a major source of environmental pollution and contamination of Buriganga river, from the city's Hazaribagh to Savar.
As per the new deadline, the government will finish relocation of the tanneries by 2012, said State Minister for Forests and Environment Hasan Mahmud in parliament yesterday.
Replying to lawmakers' queries, the state minister said Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation is implementing the project for relocation.
“The Department of Environment has already served third and final notice to tannery industry owners of Hazaribagh to complete shifting of their industry to Savar,” said Hasan Mahmud.
He also informed that as many as 155 plots already have been allocated in favour of the same number of industrial units in Harindhora area of Tetuljhora and Hazratpur union under Savar upazila.
“Land development works of that area already has been completed and the process for floating tender is going on to set up a central effluent treatment plant in that area,” added the state minister.
The High Court on February 28, 2010 extended for six months the deadline for relocation of environmentally hazardous tanneries from the capital's Hazaribagh.
In June 2009, the higher court asked the government either to shift all tanneries from Hazaribagh to a special industrial zone in Savar or close those down by February 28, 2010 to check widespread environmental pollution.
The HC came up with the order following an application from the government and Tannery Owners' Association seeking two years' time to relocate the tanneries.
Earlier in January, 2010, Hasan Mahmud told parliament that the government has decided to relocate tanneries from Hazaribagh to a place outside the capital by February 28, 2010.
He also said the government has also set a deadline of June 30, this year for the industries, which dump liquid wastes into water bodies, to install effluent treatment plant (ETP).
On February 6, this year, Hasan Mahmud told parliament that Hazaribagh tannery owners' responses are not at all conducive to implementing the High Court's order on the relocation.
On June 19, 2010, Industries Minister Dilip Barua told parliament that relocation of tannery industries from the capital's Hazaribagh will begin soon.
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