In the meanwhile, the tanneries and other related industries are dumping 7.7 million litres of toxic liquid waste into the river Buriganga, not to mention the 88 tonnes of solid wastes disgorged everyday by them into the same river. Denizens of the western part of the city who have been reeling under the onslaught of toxic wastes for years have to put up with it another four years, if not more.

The bleak outlook of the project is underscored by its cost escalation; what started out as an estimated cost of Tk 175 crore is set to escalate now by Tk 187 crore to stand at Tk 362 crore.

There are other complications as well, some which sound typical of the demanding nature of our industrialists. There may be a justified point about the need for soft loan to buy modern machinery to replace the old vintage machines, but to ask for a waiver on repayment of a loan worth Tk 1200 crore, borrowed for hide procurement during successive Eid festivals, is evidently unjustifiable.

China and India are said to be cutting back on the number of tanneries out of sheer environmental concerns. This can imply two things: on the one hand, if we have modernised industries in safer locations with suitable effluent treatment plants we can increase our share of the world market, but on the other, if there is any flaw in terms of providing safeguards against toxic pollution it will pose serious environmental hazards. The bottom-line is: our relocation project will have to be foolproof.

We urge the tannery owners and the government to work hand in hand on the project so that a vast number of people can be saved from lethal toxic hazards.