Editorial
Relocating tanneries
Brooks no further delay
CITY'S tannery owners are reportedly poised to sign a deal with the government to relocate their units to Savar. Tannery plant owners have been asked to submit layouts of their factories to BSCIC, an industry ministry body, within two months.
We would like to be reassured with the report on tannery relocation, because the project's progress has been stymied since its approval by ECNEC in 2003, over who would share what part of the project cost including installation of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).
It appears that the government's readiness to bear 80 per cent of the cost, which has multiplied many times over the past decade, has helped settle matters.
So far so good. We want to believe that this is the last deal agreed between the government and the tannery businesses. That is so because the city dwellers can no more stand the hazard of being eternally exposed to 88 million tons of solid and 7.7 million litres of toxic liquid effluents disgorged everyday by some 200 tannery plants. Add to that the prospect of losing around one billion dollar worth of leather and leather product exports to the EU, unless the CETP is established.
The shifting of the tannery units, therefore, brooks no delay. The government must see to it that the latest deal with tannery owners works.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments