Relocation of tanneries to Savar might be delayed further
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
S M Jahangir
The much-talked-about relocation of tannery units from city's Hazaribagh to Savar's new leather estate could be delayed further due to multifarious reasons although a court order asked the authorities to complete the shifting process by February 2010, sources said.
Officials familiar with the relocation project informed the FE that the relocation of tannery units to the government's established leather estate would take a at least couple of years more.
The government had initiated the relocation project in 2003 in order to stop pouring thousands of litres of untreated and highly toxic liquid wastes into the Buriganga from the existing tannery units of Hazaribagh area.
But nearly seven years of exercise have failed to implement the project primarily because of bureaucratic cobweb coupled with the prevailing tussle between the implementing agencies and tannery owners over the relocation arrangements, the sources said.
They also found some technical problems, including a dispute that arose over the funding of the proposed common effluent treatment plant (CETP) at Savar, responsible for such delay.
According to officials, the authorities and the tanners concerned have taken opposite stances on the funding of the proposed Tk 4.0 billion CETP, a major component for prevention of environmental pollution in the new leather estate.
Although the government in its initial project proposal (PP) agreed that it would finance the CETP, later the PP was recast, in which a provision was incorporated that the tannery owners would bear the CEPT building cost.
In the revised PP the government had also agreed to repay the spent money in 20 years through 20 equal installments, the project insiders said, adding that the apex body of the tannery owners had declined to accept such proposal.
They further said the authorities are considering floating a tender for setting up the proposed CETP as discussions are on with the tannery owners.
An official, however, said building up of the proposed CETP would take at least two years after awarding the job to the bidder.
Apart from the said dispute, the tannery association has also some demands including necessary compensation from the government for relocation of their units to Savar leather estate.
Besides, they are also seeking some special facilities like tax holiday and other incentives, especially those which are applicable for export processing zones (EPZs), from the government, said an official.
Some technical problems about the tender and re-tender of the project works are also delaying the relocation process, he mentioned.
The official said the authorities have almost completed the process of distributing plots of the Savar leather estate in favour of 154 tannery owners concerned.
The much-talked-about relocation of tannery units from city's Hazaribagh to Savar's new leather estate could be delayed further due to multifarious reasons although a court order asked the authorities to complete the shifting process by February 2010, sources said.
Officials familiar with the relocation project informed the FE that the relocation of tannery units to the government's established leather estate would take a at least couple of years more.
The government had initiated the relocation project in 2003 in order to stop pouring thousands of litres of untreated and highly toxic liquid wastes into the Buriganga from the existing tannery units of Hazaribagh area.
But nearly seven years of exercise have failed to implement the project primarily because of bureaucratic cobweb coupled with the prevailing tussle between the implementing agencies and tannery owners over the relocation arrangements, the sources said.
They also found some technical problems, including a dispute that arose over the funding of the proposed common effluent treatment plant (CETP) at Savar, responsible for such delay.
According to officials, the authorities and the tanners concerned have taken opposite stances on the funding of the proposed Tk 4.0 billion CETP, a major component for prevention of environmental pollution in the new leather estate.
Although the government in its initial project proposal (PP) agreed that it would finance the CETP, later the PP was recast, in which a provision was incorporated that the tannery owners would bear the CEPT building cost.
In the revised PP the government had also agreed to repay the spent money in 20 years through 20 equal installments, the project insiders said, adding that the apex body of the tannery owners had declined to accept such proposal.
They further said the authorities are considering floating a tender for setting up the proposed CETP as discussions are on with the tannery owners.
An official, however, said building up of the proposed CETP would take at least two years after awarding the job to the bidder.
Apart from the said dispute, the tannery association has also some demands including necessary compensation from the government for relocation of their units to Savar leather estate.
Besides, they are also seeking some special facilities like tax holiday and other incentives, especially those which are applicable for export processing zones (EPZs), from the government, said an official.
Some technical problems about the tender and re-tender of the project works are also delaying the relocation process, he mentioned.
The official said the authorities have almost completed the process of distributing plots of the Savar leather estate in favour of 154 tannery owners concerned.