Editorial
Anti-pollution drive
Industries take issue with environment minister
Some industries, largely responsible for environmental degradation, have demanded the government stop the ongoing anti-pollution drives. Such group of industries include steel mills, re-rolling mills, plastic factories and brickfields.
The reasons they are citing for a halt to enforcement of environmental rules are 'hefty' fines imposed by Department of Environment (DoE) followed by, in some instances, shutting down of industries. The DoE authority argues that they are compelled to penalise the industries because the level of pollution created by them has crossed the limit set for them.
Actually, while setting up the factories owners were supposed to have effluent treatment units attached to them. The industry ministry which licentiates establishment of any manufacturing unit is responsible for ensuring that such an industry has an ETP. It is, however, for the environment ministry now to enforce rules against polluting industries.
It is good to see that a consultative process has been set in motion between the polluting industries and the authorities concerned at the initiative of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries. The FBCCI organised a programme titled "Environment-related Problems and Solutions bringing about an inter-face between the industries and the anti-pollution authorities.
The industries complained of absence of timely warnings and guidelines which clearly need to be looked into. The minister for environment and forests Hassan Mahmud rightly stuck to his policy of enforcement but assured industry owners of considering not shutting down industries following drives.
Solution to the problem on a permanent footing lies in having separate industrial estates with central effluent treatment plants (CETPs) installed in them. This envisages clustering of industries. Furthermore, we share the minister's emphasis on saving the Buriganga river by shifting industries operating on its banks away to a separate industrial zone. Action on the ground, however, is sorely missing.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments