Some unlicensed tanneries will shut down: Saber Hossain Chowdhury
The parliamentary committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change (MOEFCC), Bangladesh, along with the consent of other ministries, has decided to close some tanneries of Savar tannery estate that have never applied for environmental clearance and are unlikely to ensure compliance.
Representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Commerce, and Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) have consented to the decision.
The news discloses by Saber Hossain Chowdhury, President of the parliamentary committee of the MOEFCC, Bangladesh.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, ” The purpose of shifting the tannery from Dhaka City to Savar was to prevent pollution. Unfortunately, now Dhaleswari of Savar is dying.
The tannery Industrial Estate at Savar generates 40,000 cubic meters of waste per day, with a waste management capacity of 25,000. Moreover, there is no solid waste management system here.
However, the committee has repeatedly recommended stopping the pollution. However, the situation did not improve much. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has admitted that they have failures. ”
Mr. Saber also shared that the tannery factories would divide into three parts. In one category, companies will have built their waste treatment plants. In another type, there will be companies that have never applied for environmental clearance, are operating on a shoestring, and are unlikely to comply.
The remaining industries are in the third category. The industries in the second phase will close soon. The concerned ministry will cancel the license of these industries.
The authority will cancel all their benefits. Organizations in the third category will get six months to become compliant.
The parliamentary committee meeting will finalize this type of list next month. Besides, people responsible for implementing such a project without an adequate waste treatment system will be identified and actioned.
