How far is Savar from Hazaribagh?

There are about 200 tanneries in Hazaribagh. These tanneries constitute the backbone of the leather industry of Bangladesh and contribute $1.0 billion to the national exchequer annually. Tanneries located in Hazaribagh dump around 21,000 cubic metres of untreated waste into the Buriganga river on a daily basis. The river is the main source of water for Dhaka. Workers, engaged in the tanneries, operate with little protective gear to safeguard themselves from hazardous chemicals such as chromium. The effects of dumping chemical wastes into the Buriganga are multifarious. Bad smell is affecting the Hazaribagh residents. There is also use of 40 different types of metal and acid in raw hide processing, 40 per cent of which is absorbed into leather while the rest is discarded into surrounding water bodies. This leads to serious environmental degradation. Other hazardous toxins used in the production process include potash, sulphuric acid, caustic soda, arsenic sulphate etc.
A large number of people living in the vicinity of Hazaribagh suffer from various skin diseases as the water is contaminated. Untreated chemicals end up in the Buriganga river and thereby are affecting the greater populace of Dhaka city. Both livestock and fisheries production in the area have declined.
The initiative to relocate the Hazaribagh tanneries outside Dhaka began in 2009 after a High Court order. The idea was to set up safe tannery zone and protect the city's water supply from contamination. Even in 2016, progress is not encouraging. Tanneries are not moving to Savar. It is found that facilities in Savar are not yet complete. Of 150 plot owners, only about 30 have made some progress.
The authorities say that work on the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) has nearly concluded and will come into operation once the bulk of the tanneries are relocated. It is unlikely that the tanneries will move to Savar by the new deadline of February 28. Relocation will probably cost Tk 35 billion. The question is who is going to bear the cost. The government has contributed Tk 2.50 billion.
Public health of 15 million or more residents continues to suffer. Cases of ailments among the young and the old are piling up. Diagnostic centres are making good money. It is a pity that the authorities are not serious about this although it affects all.
It has been found that most of the tannery owners who were allotted plots are no longer in the business. These tanneries are running on rent. The owners are allegedly selling their Savar plots. Many of the founders of the tanneries have also died. Their successors are not familiar with the techniques of this business. Many of them have no money to move to Savar. Because of government pressure to move, the tanners are selling the plots. These businessmen who bought the plots, are allegedly doing the development work in the name of the original owners. Legally these plots can not be sold. This information is known to the project officials in Savar. There are 205 plots there. In these plots 155 tanneries are to be relocated.
The tannery project was approved on August 16, 2003 by the ECNEC. Plots were allocated in 2007. At that time, members of the Bangladesh Tanners Association were allotted100 plots and members of the Finished Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association were allotted 55 plots. Currently, the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (project authority) is working on transfer of143 tanneries
The Hazaribagh tanneries started operations before the independence of the country. Many of the pioneers are now dead. Their children are the successors. Big and medium-sized tanneries process 60 per cent of leather and export them or make products. The rest 40 per cent is processed in hired tanneries. Those who are engaged in this operation are known as shippers. These shippers are familiar with tannery operations and market conditions. But they did not get plots. They are buying plots from the tannery owners.
When the export of wet blue leather was banned in 1994, most of the tanneries became sick. After the death of original owners, money from lease was given to the successors. In order to move to Saver and to import equipment, billions of taka would be needed. Many of the present owners do not have so much money. The value of Savar tannery plots is now ten times more than the government rate. Tannery owners are benefiting from sale of plots.
The ground reality is that relocation could not take place because the facilities at Savar are not yet ready. A comprehensive system has to be evolved for completion of relocation. Moving from Hazaribagh to Savar is indeed a glaring example of failure in project implementation.
The writer is an economist and columnist.
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