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Hazaribagh Tannery Zone

Snags make relocation uncertain as pollution nags at residents

Shahnaz Parveen
Relocation of the tannery zone from the city's Hazaribagh area to the leather estate at Savar remains caught up in the complex procedures of setting up the central effluent treatment plant (CETP) while the pollution continues to play havoc on environment.
Another major obstacle to the relocation project is most of the land and property at Hazaribagh are mortgaged against bank loans. Until the banks release the mortgaged property it would be impossible to shift from there, industry leaders said.
The residents of the city’s western part continue to suffer from the adverse effects of pollution caused by some 200 tanneries in Hazaribagh and surrounding areas.
Locals allege that they require medical treatment for skin disorders, fevers, coughs, gastroenteritis, asthma and diabetes on a regular basis.
The dreadful stink of the tannery district can be smelt from miles away -- the residential areas like Rayerbazar, Jhigatola and parts of Dhanmondi.
Many residents said the fumes emitted by tanneries often damage their gold and silver ornaments and affects home appliances such as TV, fridge, computer and air conditioner systems.
Moreover, the Hazaribagh tannery district located in a 25-hectare area is solely responsible for choking up the river Buriganga and causing serious pollution in and around the area.
The untreated tannery
waste is one of the most hazardous and toxic wastes as more than 30 chemicals are used to process rawhide and finished leather.
Every day nearly 22,000 cubic metres of untreated and highly toxic liquid waste are released from tanneries that flow through the canals into the Buriganga, the lifeline of the
capital, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).
Also about 100 tonnes of solid waste including trimmings of finished leather, shaving dusts, hair, fleshing, trimming of raw hides and skins are dumped into the Buriganga, posing a serious threat to the environment.
But still the project sees no headway as various issues remain unresolved.
The authorities have cancelled an international tender and work order to set up the CETP in January last year due to some flaws in the experience certificate provided by the lowest bidder and high cost of the proposed plant. The winner
company, on the other hand, filed a writ petition in the High Court against the decision.
As a result, inviting fresh tender for the CETP is taking too much time.
Moreover, the tannery owners disagree on various issues, which further delays the relocation process. The present government asked the owners to bear the CETP building cost, which can be paid in instalments over a 20-year period.
The tannery owners however said according to the agreement signed between the industries ministry and them, the government is supposed to construct CETP and hand it over to the owners for maintenance after two years.
Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters' Association (BFLLFEA) Chairman Rezaul Karim Ansari said, “The govt should consider that most tanners of Hazaribagh are small investors. Bearing the cost of CETP building, in addition to the shifting cost, would be too much on them.”
"But moving to Savar leather estate without a CETP is the same as staying at Hazaribagh. Until a CETP is established at Savar to monitor pollution levels, tanners have to remain at Hazaribagh, which remains the main issue now," he said.
About the mortgaged property he said, "We requested the government to help in this matter so that the banks allow us to shift the mortgage to the newly allocated land in Savar. 1 lowever, we did not receive any positive gesture."
Tannery owners arc also reluctant to shift their busi-
nesses until the government prorides them with compensation and other facilities. The tannery owners said they demanded Tk 250 crore in compensation for the relocation, but the government is not willing to provide that amount.
Tipu Sultan, former chairman of BFLLFEA said, "The compensation offered by the government is scanty. The shifting would require an investment of Tk 4,500 crore. But with the existing set-up at Hazaribagh, we would be able to cover around Tk 2,000 crore. We would definitely need government support."
In 2003, the then government initiated the Tk 175-crore "Dhaka Tannery Estate Project (DTEP)" to shift the tanneries to the leather estate in Savar. It was undertaken to protect
the capital city and the Buriganga River from pollution.
The project was scheduled to end by 2005. After it missed the deadline several times, the government has planned to hand the estate over to the tanners by 2010.
State-owned Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is implementing the project on the 200-acre land at Kantiboilapur, Chandro Narayanpur and Char Narayanpur in Savar.
Meanwhile, European counties are set to pass new policies that will bar import of products from industries that pollute environment with harmful chemical agents and do not have individual or central effluentplant.
Managing Director of Apex Adelchi Footwear Ltd
Syed Nasim Manzur said the shifting should be completed as early as possible consulting with the tannery owners keeping in mind the impending EU legislation, or else it would hurt the export-oriented industry.’
ABM Khorshedul Alam, director (finance), BSCIC, told Star City that the construction work of the basic infrastructure and sewerage has already been completed. The government would soon float a fresh tender for setting up the CETR
"The relocation process will be accelerated. We have completed all procedures to invite the fresh tender. Hopefully it will be announced next month. The industry owners can now' easily start the preliminary stages of shifting," he said.