There are quite a few practices and initiatives through which ETP can be effectively operated. One such practice is by encouraging outsourcing of the effluent treatment requirements. The country has not yet seen such an initiative and there are most likely no companies specialised in this effluent management sector, but there is a scope for interested entrepreneurs or even the government to encourage such specialised companies to get created. The benefits from this would result in adjusting the investment costs for the ETP, use of fully trained and experienced staff in this sector, greater assurance in tackling changing environmental laws and requirements, security of long-term operation. Example of such a practice can be found in the United Kingdom, where companies contract out their ETP requirements and enjoy fair reduction in yearly costs. Another example of efficient and beneficial operation of ETP has been set by a few companies in Bangladesh, with their chemical ETPs. Among these few companies some of them were interviewed. The Managers and supervisors of these companies possess excellent and up-to-date knowledge of their chemical ETP. They specifically mentioned that identifying the effluent characteristics, keeping routine data and jar testing on a routine basis helped control the dose rate for coagulant/flocculant and helped in maintaining the value of the parameters well within the standards. The companies are also highly motivated and are working on using the treated water from the ETP for use in their rest rooms to reduce costs and usage of water in flushing. An estimated cost of only Tk 0.8 million would be used in such a set-up, which would prove highly beneficial for the company in the long run. These few companies no longer look at the ETP as just a treatment process but also a significant part of their production process. In case of machineries and equipment used at ETP, variable-frequency drives can be installed which helps in controlling the speed of an electric motor. There can be use of energy-efficient motors, upgrading heating, cooling, ventilation systems, and of course energy efficient lighting system. Setting up a diversion unit with the existing ETP can also become very beneficial in operating an ETP as it is used to control the unwarranted or risky incidents such as unexpected peaks, in strength, flow or Ph, unexpected spillages etc. This could be controlled automatically, for example, through an on-line Ph monitor or manually through an operator. It can also be used in returning of effluent trickle to the effluent at a suitable point for ETP, re-using the contents of the tank in the manufacturing process etc. Reviewing of each chemical and biological process routinely and appropriately following the ETP monitoring and maintaining guideline would surely result in more efficient performance and reduced running costs. Private-Public partnership can also play a significant role in setting up and running ETP by creating a local market for equipment and chemicals. In order to balance the variation in prices and regulate uneven competition within the industry for establishing and maintaining ETP, private-public partnership can set up a market where owners of businesses can buy the machinery for ETP operation. The Finance Minister, AMA Muhith in his budget speech for 2014-15, announced that the government had taken a decision of imposing 1.0 per cent ‘Environmental Protection Surcharge’/’green tax’ on ad-valorem basis, on all products polluting the environment. The initiative sounds promising, but it definitely needs to be backed by responsible actions from the National Board of Revenues (NBR), as they are still monitoring the names of the companies listed for penal action. So far, the NBR has listed 760 industries out of the some thousand factories in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna as the list keeps on changing, when the companies who install ETPs are taken out of the list. It has been observed that, a lot of factories operate plants only just before inspection by the DoE (department of environment) and even bribe the inspectors to generate biased reports. In an inter-ministerial meeting Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan has stated that industries who have not been running ETPs have already been fined Tk 1.18 billion (118 crore) and those who do not yet utilise them would be shut down. He also mentioned that initiatives have been taken to relocate tanneries to Savar but disagreements remain between the government and the tannery owners regarding the time of relocation and compensation for shifting. The Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) which was supposed to be ready by this time of the year at Savar for the tanneries has not also been completed, which creates more concerns in the decision of reallocation. While setting up ETP, choosing the right type of ETP is important, and at the same time maintenance and routine monitoring of the existing ones is equally significant for the entire textile and apparel industry. Choosing the correct ETP for the industry becomes easier, only if the industry is able to understand the effluent characteristic and have proper knowledge regarding the ETP operations. Such initiatives in operating the ETPs by the already existing companies can set examples for the new companies.
