Tannery pollution causes Tk. 1.1 million loss a day

Environment pollution caused by tannery factories at Hazaribagh in the capital Dhaka eats up Tk 1.1 million a day, a report of Environmental Department said.

The report said that pollution costs the country more than Tk. 40 crore a year.

Explaining the losses, the report said that tanneries generate around 22,000 cubic metres of untreated liquid waste every day and this directly goes into the water of the Buriganga River resulting river pollution.

It was learnt that the liquid waste of the tanneries basically contains chromium, sulphur, ammonium, salt and other chemicals, which are very harmful for the human health.

Around 95 percent of more than 250 tannery factories on 25 hectares land at Hazaribagh are unplanned and caused immense environment pollution, according a report of Bangladesh Environment Department.

A study by Bangladesh Society for Environment and Human Development shows about 8 to 12 thousand workers suffer from gastrointestinal disease and 31% workers have skin problems, 12% Hypertension and 19% hepatitis.

Another report by Human Rights Watch said 85-90 percent tannery workers die at the age of 50 as they work in unhealthy and unsafe environment.

The Appellate division of Supreme Court on March 12 ordered the government to close all tanneries at Hazaribagh and cut water, power and gas connection to the factories.

“The water of Buriganga River is totally unusable for agriculture, industry and household chores. Most importantly, the Buriganga water is so polluted that it is not possible to treat the water,” Abdus Sobhan, general secretary of Paribesh Banchao Andolon (Paba) said.

“Another dangerous aspect is workers of factories are at high risk of heath complexities like skin disease, asthma and Gastric pain,” he added.

Speaking to Jago News, workers also echoed Abdus Sobhan.

“I have been working here for four years. Now I am diagnosed with asthma. Life is difficult now. When I eat something, my throat burns,” Palash, a worker said.

Many factories are still operating their activities at the area despite the appellate division of Supreme Court order that the tanners to relocate their factories at Savar.

Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) also supports the relocation plans.

Speaking to Jago News, Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) chairman Shahin Ahmed said: “We must move from Hazaribagh as the factories pollute Buriganga River. If we relocate at Savar, our production will also increase but we cannot do it now as we have export order of $40 crore.”

(The article originally published in Bangla edition of Jagonews24.com is written in English by Zahidul Islam)