Tanners have sought time again from the court, saying that the tannery estate at Savar is not ready yet for the relocation of their tanneries. “We have lodged an appeal with the chamber judge against the order to immediately close the tanneries. The petition is waiting for hearing on Sunday,” Bangladesh Tanners’ Association president Shaheen Ahmed told the FE on Friday. Mr Ahmed said they did not seek any specific timeframe from the court, but gave a description of the present situation at Savar Tannery Estate. The High Court on Monday last directed the director general of Department of Environment to immediately close the tanneries that are running in the capital’s Hazaribagh area and have not yet been relocated to Savar Tannery Industrial Estate. The court also asked the DG to disconnect utility services, including gas, power and water, to the tanneries as they were polluting the environment, violating the court’s directives issued earlier. Home, environment and industries ministries, inspector general of police (IGP) and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police have been asked to assist the DG in compliance with the order. The HC asked the DG to submit a report after complying with its directives by April 6 and fixed April 10 for further hearing on the issue. A bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Salim issued the order following a petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela). Shaheen Ahmed said, “There is no gas connection, CETP is not yet complete, and waste dumping ground is not also ready.” Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather-goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association (BFLLFEA) leader Md Abu Taher said they are ready for relocation of their tanneries, but the government is not ready. He said the government has yet to provide them with the legal documents on those plots. So, the traders cannot get loans from banks and cannot begin construction of their factories. “We cannot get bank loans for legal documents on our plots. On the other hand, Hazaribagh plots are red-marked for the loan,” he said. He said they cannot do business either at Savar or Hazaribagh. “We are not receiving full utility facilities at Savar, and the government is going to stop utility facilities at Hazaribagh,” he said. Despite attempts for several times, Savar Tannery Estate Project Director Abdul Quayum could not be reached for his comments in this regard. Last year, the tanneries at Hazaribagh produced every day about 21,600 cubic metres of environmentally-hazardous liquid containing chemicals such as chromium, sulphur, ammonium, salt and other chemicals. During a recent visit to the tannery estate, it was seen that the authorities have been running the effluent treatment plant (ETP) on a trial basis, treating liquid waste from 47 units now operating in Savar. Another 107 units are supposed to be relocated to Savar from Hazaribagh. Following a writ petition filed by Bela, the HC on June 23, 2009 directed the tannery owners to relocate to the estate by February 28, 2010. Later, the deadline was extended several times.
