Govt yet to set up central ETP, relocate tanneries in Savar

By AKM Moinuddin
UNB Staff Writer

Dhaka, July 9 (UNB) - The much talked about relocation of the tanneries from Hazaribagh in the capital to Savar is still in limbo as the government is yet to set up a central Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) there.
Environmentalists and tannery owners blamed the bureaucracy for the delay in setting up the central ETP in Savar, which impeded the move that was aimed at ensuring public safety and free the capital from pollution.
The deadline to set up the central ETP and shift the environmentally hazardous tanneries from city's Hazaribagh to Savar ended on April 30 this year.
Three Project Directors have so far went on LPR (leave preparatory to retirement) but the central ETP project remained unimplemented.
The current Project Director, M Mahbubur Rahman said they have made substantial progress. “We’ve received the financial offers. It’s now being evaluated by the technical committee comprising representatives of BUET and WASA and environmental and City Corporation experts.”
Once the evaluation is completed, the financial offers will be sent to the purchase committee and the Notification of Award will be given to the suitable bidder as soon as possible, he said.
“It’s a gigantic job. There is no lack of sincerity. Actually we’ve lack of experts. It’ll take another three months to give the work order,” Mahbubur Rahman said.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua said the government would try its best to complete the ETP project within the shortest possible time.
“We’re not sitting idle. We’re following all formalities to keep the entire process beyond question,” he said.
Replying to a question, Barua said they will give the work order as soon as possible, hopefully by next month.
In view of the tremendous environmental and health hazards, the government had taken up a project in 2003 to relocate the tanneries from the capital to Savar.
The government prepared the first project proposal in 2003. The initial estimated cost of the three-year project was Tk 1.75 billion, which later shot up to Tk 5.45 billion as per the revised project document in 2007.
There are some 195 tanneries at Hazaribagh in the city and the proposed under-construction tannery estate in Savar will accommodate some 155 factories.
The Tk 5 billion central ETP project, initiated in January 2003, was scheduled to be completed by December 2005. However, the construction schedule was later extended to June 2010.
On June 1 this year, State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud informed Parliament that the relocation of the Hazaribagh tanneries will be completed by the end of 2012.
The High Court on June 23, 2009 asked the government to either shift all the tanneries from the capital to a special industrial zone in Savar or shut them by February 28, 2010, to check widespread pollution of environment.
The court order came following a petition by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA) and Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
But the court twice extended the deadline by six months due to the delay in implementing the CETP project.
END/UNB/AKM/