Hazaribagh tanneries

Utility services cut off

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday disconnected gas, power and water utility services to 54 leather factories at Hazaribagh in Dhaka in accordance with a Supreme Court (SC) order. On March 6, the SC had directed the DoE director-general to shut down the tanneries that failed to relocate from Hazaribagh to Savar Tannery Industrial Estate. The DoE was asked to submit a report to the court by April 6.
The drive was led by DoE director-general Md Raisul Alam Mondul. “We have completed our task of shutting down the Hazaribagh tanneries, including disconnection of utility services, as per the court order. We will submit our report to the court tomorrow (Sunday),” Mondul said after the operation that began around 9am.
A total of 193 water lines, 224 electricity lines and 54 gas lines were disconnected during the operation, the DoE chief disclosed.
Mondul said some gas lines were cut earlier by officials of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company as part of their own procedures. Telephone lines to the tanneries were
cut off on April 4. All stakeholders such as the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Power Division and Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company assisted the DoE to shut down the factories, he said. The police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local administration assisted in the drive, which included two Dhaka district officials and two DoE magistrates, he added.
“No one stopped us and everyone involved cooperated with the drive. Even the tannery owners and leaders of Bangladesh Tannery Association (BTA) also helped us,” Mondul said.
The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has allocated 205 plots to tannery owners at Savar. Besides, the government has disbursed Tk. 250 crore to the 155 tannery owners for relocation.
However, the tannery owners at Hazaribagh were reluctant to relocate to Savar despite repeated orders to do so.
Sources said 105 tanneries out of a total of 155 had not shifted to the newly constructed Savar tannery village at the end of eighth deadline on February 28. The deadline was announced by industries minister Amir Hossain Amu on February 5.
On October 16, 2016, the minister had set a December deadline for the relocation of the tanneries, but the government failed to enforce it.
On January 10, 2016, Amu had asked the tannery owners to shift their units within 72 hours and directed the authorities to serve legal notices. Later, the authorities concerned extended the deadline to April 3 and then to April 30.
In 2001, the High Court had directed the government to shift the leather factories from Hazaribagh to Savar in view of the critical condition of the Buriganga caused by the effusion of untreated chemical wastes from tanneries. 

 

Hazaribagh tanneries

Utility services cut off

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday disconnected gas, power and water utility services to 54 leather factories at Hazaribagh in Dhaka in accordance with a Supreme Court (SC) order. On March 6, the SC had directed the DoE director-general to shut down the tanneries that failed to relocate from Hazaribagh to Savar Tannery Industrial Estate. The DoE was asked to submit a report to the court by April 6. The drive was led by DoE director-general Md Raisul Alam Mondul. We have completed our task of shutting down the Hazaribagh tanneries, including disconnection of utility services, as per the court order. We will submit our report to the court tomorrow (Sunday), Mondul said after the operation that began around 9am. A total of 193 water lines, 224 electricity lines and 54 gas lines were disconnected during the operation, the DoE chief disclosed. Mondul said some gas lines were cut earlier by officials of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company as part of their own procedures. Telephone lines to the tanneries were cut off on April 4. All stakeholders such as the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Power Division and Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company assisted the DoE to shut down the factories, he said. The police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local administration assisted in the drive, which included two Dhaka district officials and two DoE magistrates, he added. No one stopped us and everyone involved cooperated with the drive. Even the tannery owners and leaders of Bangladesh Tannery Association (BTA) also helped us, Mondul said. The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has allocated 205 plots to tannery owners at Savar. Besides, the government has disbursed Tk. 250 crore to the 155 tannery owners for relocation. However, the tannery owners at Hazaribagh were reluctant to relocate to Savar despite repeated orders to do so. Sources said 105 tanneries out of a total of 155 had not shifted to the newly constructed Savar tannery village at the end of eighth deadline on February 28. The deadline was announced by industries minister Amir Hossain Amu on February 5. On October 16, 2016, the minister had set a December deadline for the relocation of the tanneries, but the government failed to enforce it. On January 10, 2016, Amu had asked the tannery owners to shift their units within 72 hours and directed the authorities to serve legal notices. Later, the authorities concerned extended the deadline to April 3 and then to April 30. In 2001, the High Court had directed the government to shift the leather factories from Hazaribagh to Savar in view of the critical condition of the Buriganga caused by the effusion of untreated chemical wastes from tanneries.