Factory keeps ETP shut, discharges waste into vast wetland, farmland in Mymensingh
The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday sealed Experience Textiles Ltd, a Pakistani venture for fabric dyeing at Bhaluka in Mymensingh, and fined it Tk 2.24 crore for polluting over 232 acres of agricultural land.
This is the highest amount of fine ever imposed by the DoE.
Officials involved in the DoE drive that detected such a massive pollution said the factory authorities kept their effluent treatment plant (ETP) shut, and were discharging liquid toxic pollutants through a pipeline in Kakchhara and Sadhuya beels (wetlands) and agricultural lands around.
They wanted to hide their misdeed by covering with large polythene sheets the spot where the pollutants are discharged from the pipeline, said Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, DoE director of enforcement and monitoring.
The pipeline was blocked yesterday.
The affected locals hailed the drive as they had repeatedly complained about it earlier only in vain.
“Local people are very happy as the factory owners were ignoring their demand for an end to polluting their cultivable land,” said Munir.
During the drive, experts examined samples of the liquid waste collected from the spot and examined it.
And they found the waste very harmful for crops, aquatic species and human health, said a press release of the DoE.
Hundreds of local people gathered at the site when drive was conducted. They alleged that the factory polluted their farm lands for long.
The factory involving an investment of over Tk 100 crore started operation nearly two years ago. Pakistani national Maksud Ahmed, managing director of factory, was present during the drive.
This is the highest amount of fine ever imposed by the DoE.
Officials involved in the DoE drive that detected such a massive pollution said the factory authorities kept their effluent treatment plant (ETP) shut, and were discharging liquid toxic pollutants through a pipeline in Kakchhara and Sadhuya beels (wetlands) and agricultural lands around.
They wanted to hide their misdeed by covering with large polythene sheets the spot where the pollutants are discharged from the pipeline, said Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, DoE director of enforcement and monitoring.
The pipeline was blocked yesterday.
The affected locals hailed the drive as they had repeatedly complained about it earlier only in vain.
“Local people are very happy as the factory owners were ignoring their demand for an end to polluting their cultivable land,” said Munir.
During the drive, experts examined samples of the liquid waste collected from the spot and examined it.
And they found the waste very harmful for crops, aquatic species and human health, said a press release of the DoE.
Hundreds of local people gathered at the site when drive was conducted. They alleged that the factory polluted their farm lands for long.
The factory involving an investment of over Tk 100 crore started operation nearly two years ago. Pakistani national Maksud Ahmed, managing director of factory, was present during the drive.
- Daily Star, 30-12-2010
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