Only 50pc work done

Not even five factories are ready to initiate production at Tannery Industrial Estate, whereas the authorities need at least 40 factories for starting the central effluent treatment plant (CETP), said Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa). 

After visiting the tannery industrial area in Savar yesterday, two days before the government's April 10 deadline, Bapa representatives demanded forming of a taskforce that would monitor the work in progress.

"The government decided to relocate the tannery from Hazaribagh to Savar nearly two decades ago. But it did not happen due to indifferent attitude of the tanners and the government's ineffective moves," said Syed Abul Maksud, a vice-president of Bapa.

Merely 50 percent of work of the estate has been completed so far, he said.

The authorities concerned should complete the work faster, and be cautious so that the tannery industries do not pollute the new areas in Savar after relocation.

Zakir Hossain, an executive member of Bapa, said Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation authorities need minimum 40 tannery industries to start the CETP operation.

"Not even five are ready to start production," he said.

Though the government has set different deadlines, they could not complete the relocations in due time because of the lack of proper monitoring, he said.

The government on April 1 enforced a ban on the supply of rawhide to the capital's Hazaribagh, for which at least five tanners out of the 152 have started storing up rawhide in their factories at Savar Tannery Industrial Estate.

The government extended the deadline as all the tanners failed to relocate within the previous deadline of March 31.

Tanners said they could not start production in Savar as they were yet to get water and gas connections.

The government authorities, however, claimed they were ready for the test run of the central effluent treatment plant at the tannery estate after completion of works of the drainage system.