The leather village at Savar will be ready for relocation of tanneries by the end of the year 2008, two years ahead of the schedule, the industries adviser told reporters yesterday after a meeting with some tannery owners in Dhaka.

"All infrastructure development works excluding construction of the central waste treatment plant have been completed," Geeteara Safiya Choudhury said.

The works completed include roads, utility services, telecommunications, fire extinguisher systems, sewerage and banking facilities.

The tanners and leather traders, who have been allotted plots at the under construction leather enclave, met her at the Ministry of Industries to hand over the first instalment money.

The project was supposed to be completed by 2010.

The adviser informed the plot recipients that the bidders concerned have been instructed to complete the construction work on the waste treatment plant in a span of one and half years time.

"The bidders sought two years to finish the work, but it must be completed within one and half years taking its urgency into consideration," she said, adding that the government has undertaken the project as it attaches due importance to the promising leather.

A total of 164 plot recipients of Bangladesh Tanners Association and Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association handed over the first instalment money to the adviser.

Another group of 170 entrepreneurs, who have been allotted 195 plots in the 200-acre land area near the Dhaleswari river, will hand over their instalment money by June 30, the leaders of the two associations told the function.

Considering the environmental concern in 2002, the government took a project to relocate the tanneries of Hazaribug area of the capital to Savar.

At that time Tk 175.75 crore was estimated to be required for implementation of the project by 2007. Later, the budget was increased to Tk 565.54 crore and the implementation time was extended to 2010.

When implemented, the project will generate job opportunities for one lakh people, the ministry source said.

Industries Secretary Nurul Amin and Tanners Association President Harun Choudhury were present among others.