500 tonnes of toxic DDT in Ctg port store for 30 years

Shamsul Huda | August 17, 2014 00:00:00

Five hundred tonnes of toxic DDT (Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane) powder remain unused at a regional health store in Chittagong for 30 years, a World Bank-employed consultancy firm said in a report.

An official in the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) confirming the storage of DDT said it is kept since 1982 in Chittagong port area.

During this long period, the toxic power could not be removed nor disposed off as a case was filed by the then government against the importing company on the issues of quality and quantity of the goods.

The government's procuring entity for the DDT powder was Central Medical Supply Depot (CMSD) under the MoHFW.

A CMSD staff said that the ministry of law should find a way either by resolving the legal battle or by any other means to dispose off the stock of DDT.

Brigadier General Dr. Golam Rahman, director, CMSD under the Directorate General of Health Services said, "Though this large quantity of DDT is a matter of concern for us in respect of its disposal we can do nothing due to legal problem."

The CMSD director said currently the use of DDT is almost zero due to its adverse effect on environment and public health.

Though the then government gave its import order as public procurement to kill rats, insects, mosquitoes and other purposes it did not receive that from the importer.

He said, "The stored DDT is not under our ownership. But as the CMSD was procuring entity, so it may belong to us."

Another MoHFW official said if there is any leakage in the packaging materials it would spread and there would be a grave concern regarding its disposal.

He said as the matter is in the court, only the high level authorities of the government can decide about its removal or disposal through legal procedures.

He said if the government at this moment solve the problem then it would be our headache for its disposal.

The CMSD director said due to its toxic character it is not possible to dump DDT anywhere.

He said the disposal will require fund and it should be done by an expert team without harming environment and public health.