Treating industrial effluents
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Large-scale dumping of untreated effluents into nearby rivers, canals, water bodies and surface drains by industrial units, mainly tanneries and textile and dyeing mills has become a serious threat to the environment and human health. Not too long ago the government, the owners of mills and factories and the people living in areas adjacent to those industrial units bothered little about the release of toxic effluents because they were then largely unaware of the bad effects. When the polluting nature of many such industries came to be known, the department concerned carried out its responsibility rather in a lazy fashion. This encouraged more of such industrial units coming up in an uncaring and haphazard manner. Allegations have it that a section of officials have been prone to taking bribes for favours like overlooking non-compliance with the requirements under the relevant laws.
However, mainly because of a sustained campaign by the media, the government and the people in general have now become more aware than before, of the ill effects of dumping untreated industrial effluents into the water bodies. Why should they not be? The state of Dhaka's lifeline, the Buriganga, or the river Turag near Tongi does speak volumes about the hazards of untreated effluents. The rivers are now actually in their death throes. Unless the government takes some drastic measures, the rivers would soon be dead. Some other rivers across the country, including the Sitalakkhya, the Dhaleswari and the Karnaphuli, are also being polluted with industrial wastes and not many people are taking note of it.
Unfortunately, scores of industries have come up in recent years without fulfilling the requirements under the environmental law. The law concerned makes it mandatory for the industrial units producing toxic effluents to have their own effluent treatment plants (ETPs). But, because of lax supervision by the department of environment, most industrial units, old and new, do not have ETPs. The owners of mills and factories have always considered the investment in ETPs a mere wastage of their funds. They have never tried to realize the dangers of releasing untreated toxic effluents into the natural water bodies. But the government, now being more focused on the issue of pollution than before, is trying to amend its past mistakes. It has asked the mills and factories releasing untreated toxic effluents into the nearby water bodies to have their individual ETPs at the earliest.
And to facilitate the setting up of ETPs, the central bank recently has announced the creation of a Tk 2.0 billion refinancing scheme under which the industrial units willing to have their own ETPs would get loan at a discounted rate of interest at 9.0 per cent. However, most small and medium industrial units are found to be reluctant to set up ETPs because of their high costs, nearly Tk 10 million each. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, with a view to overcoming individual investment constraints has suggested that the government should bring the mills and factories into clusters so that they can use one central ETP and thus avoid multiple investments. Though it does sound logical, the proposal has some practical flaws. Most of the mills and factories are scattered over a long area and relocating those in one place would be cumbersome and costly. Even zoning of industries is unlikely to help. However, the government should actively consider the demand from the BTMA to lower duty and value added tax on chemicals used in treating effluents.
However, mainly because of a sustained campaign by the media, the government and the people in general have now become more aware than before, of the ill effects of dumping untreated industrial effluents into the water bodies. Why should they not be? The state of Dhaka's lifeline, the Buriganga, or the river Turag near Tongi does speak volumes about the hazards of untreated effluents. The rivers are now actually in their death throes. Unless the government takes some drastic measures, the rivers would soon be dead. Some other rivers across the country, including the Sitalakkhya, the Dhaleswari and the Karnaphuli, are also being polluted with industrial wastes and not many people are taking note of it.
Unfortunately, scores of industries have come up in recent years without fulfilling the requirements under the environmental law. The law concerned makes it mandatory for the industrial units producing toxic effluents to have their own effluent treatment plants (ETPs). But, because of lax supervision by the department of environment, most industrial units, old and new, do not have ETPs. The owners of mills and factories have always considered the investment in ETPs a mere wastage of their funds. They have never tried to realize the dangers of releasing untreated toxic effluents into the natural water bodies. But the government, now being more focused on the issue of pollution than before, is trying to amend its past mistakes. It has asked the mills and factories releasing untreated toxic effluents into the nearby water bodies to have their individual ETPs at the earliest.
And to facilitate the setting up of ETPs, the central bank recently has announced the creation of a Tk 2.0 billion refinancing scheme under which the industrial units willing to have their own ETPs would get loan at a discounted rate of interest at 9.0 per cent. However, most small and medium industrial units are found to be reluctant to set up ETPs because of their high costs, nearly Tk 10 million each. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, with a view to overcoming individual investment constraints has suggested that the government should bring the mills and factories into clusters so that they can use one central ETP and thus avoid multiple investments. Though it does sound logical, the proposal has some practical flaws. Most of the mills and factories are scattered over a long area and relocating those in one place would be cumbersome and costly. Even zoning of industries is unlikely to help. However, the government should actively consider the demand from the BTMA to lower duty and value added tax on chemicals used in treating effluents.