About 500 tanneries, includting 200 large units in Hazaribagh, are discharging 4.75 million litres of a variety of extremely toxic wastes and 95 metric tonnes of solid and hazardous wastes into the area's open drains. These eventually wind their way to the Buriganga River polluting the water, land and air. In Hazaribagh and Rayer Bazar areas, experts fear that the underground water is also polluted due to the tanneries.

Considering the extreme pollution of the area, the Prime Minster asked senior officials attending a meeting on July 19 to take all necessary steps to immediately shift the tanneries. The industries ministry is currently busy selecting a site for the relocation process.

Experts believe that untreated tannery wastes discharged in such a manner, is causing a wide range of health hazards. They have identified about 14 severe diseases including skin diseases, gastric ulcers, asthma, kidney infections and cancers directly deriving from the wastes. About 60 chemicals are used for processing leather. Moreover, residents in the area complain that the pungent air of the area is causing their tin roofs, ornaments and all metallic objects to erode rapidly.

"Water supplies by WASA is not drinkable because of the filthy contamination," said Harunar Rashid, an inhabitant of Hazaribag. "But we have no alternative to drinking and using such polluted water," he added.

The Department of Environment has identified the tannery industry as the 'biggest pollutant' across the country. Despite pledges by successive governments to relocate, the tanneries have remained where they are. About a million people are adversely affected by the country's???? largest industry, which has been treated with 'sympathy' because of the large amount of foreign exchange it earns through exports to Europe and America.