JS watchdog for snapping of power lines to polluting tannery industries

A parliamentary watchdog on Sunday asked the environment ministry to ensure snapping of power connections to industries under the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate for causing excessive pollution.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change had earlier asked for closure of such polluting industries.

Sunday’s meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with ruling Awami League MP Saber Hossain Chowdhury in the chair.

The Department of Environment (DoE) on Sunday placed grim statistics before the watchdog on the sorry state of the Dhaleshwari River.

It mentioned that aquatic life and biodiversity of the river has been destroyed by unbridled pollution caused by the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate.

In the meeting, the DoE said the minimum level of oxygen of Dhaleshwari River should remain 200mg/per litre. But the oxygen level in this river’s water is two to three times less than the permissible limit.

Saber told reporters after the meeting that not only oxygen level, the amount of metal chromium in the river is also much higher than the permissible level.

He said that generally, water should contain 200mg of oxygen per litre for the habitat of aquatic animals including fish. But the river has two to two and a half times less oxygen than that.

In contrast, the tolerable level for the metal chromium, which harms aquatic life and biodiversity, is 2mg per litre, but that river has 5mg-7mg. As a result, the river has now become very dangerous for aquatic life including fish.

The parliamentary body chief said the DoE came up with the statistics following its research on the water of the river in July.

He said that the Ministry of Industries has promised to increase the level of oxygen in the next three to six months and try to reduce it.

"We have asked them that if they fail, we will not allow the units responsible for it to continue. If necessary, the electricity will be turned off," he said.

The parliamentary watchdog in its meeting gave three to six months’ time to the ministry for taking measures to bring all the industry units in the tannery industry under the central effluent treatment plant.

Asked about the committee’s earlier recommendation of closure of tannery in phases, Saber said they still have a tough position.

"But we understand the ministry's position a bit - maybe they are embarrassed to tell another ministry. Our laws must apply equally to all."

He mentioned that action will be taken equally for all. It does not mean that action will be taken against any individual.

"...it does not happen. Of course they give many reasons, they say it's about industry, employment and foreign exchange. But public health and the environment and biodiversity are also important too," he added.

In this context, he also said, the committee has been telling the Ministry of Industries for the past two years.