Despite all the technological metamorphosis, andenvironmental awareness there still exists a place living in a different era.
Hazaribagh is an old tannery district of Dhaka in Bangladesh. Tannery industries of Hazaribagh are situated in the densely populatedresidential area. Around 206 leather tanneries from Hazaribagh will either shutdown their operations, or shift to a different part with 30,000 workers andequipments moving simultaneously. A way of life will soon vanish from thedistrict, but no one seems to protest.
Tanneries of Hazaribagh usually dump their effluents intothe drain that leads to River Buriganga, flowing through Dhaka. Most of theworkers from these tanneries work in primitive conditions. These kinds oftanneries are a hallmark of this place. Workers without any protective clothingwalk around the tanneries handling corrosive chemicals. Most of them do notwear boots or gloves, and handle the machinery with bare hands. No one wears amask, and there are no safety fountains for eye-washing. Their homes are builtvery close to the streams that are regularly being contaminated by thehazardous discharges of these tanneries.
Tanning and making leather involves the application ofnumerous chemicals, most of which are potentially harmful to the workers,environment and the public. An estimate states that 70% of the tannerys totaloperating costs would be for the raw animal hides, 10% will be spent onchemicals, and the remaining 20% for salaries, utilities, and other expenses. Sodiumsulfide, sodium hydrosulfide, caustic soda, lime, and sulfuric acid are a fewchemicals used in the tanning process.
The chemicals used for tanning will rot if it is not treatedproperly. Apart from this, chromium based chemicals are also used for chrome tanning.This is generally used to turn the hide into a bluish-white color so as tostore it for a longer time. During the finishing process, various finishingagents, and dyes are used to improve the look and characteristics of theleather.
As a normal practice tanners need to treat their effluentsbefore they discharge it into the environment. But, this practice is notfollowed in Hazaribagh. Tanneries in this area discharge around 21, 600 squaremeters of liquid wastes every day. Leather industry, which is the fourthlargest foreign exchange generator of the country, contributes to 6% of thetotal export earnings. The industry produces 150 metric tons of solid wasteeveryday spoiling the environment and human lives. The Government is notshowing much interest in the environmental impact caused by the industries.
Leather manufactured from this place is being shipped to the US and Europe, and other parts of the world for further processing. With thecurrent trend of more focus towards ethical manufacturing process, countriesare much interested towards the way in which their products are manufactured.They focus on the fact that it is done in a way that does not infect theenvironment. Most of the chemicals used in these tanneries are from foreigncountries. The European Commission is considering about banning the leatherimported from Hazaribagh due to its manufacturing process. Pressure of thesecountries has actually made the tanneries to attempt relocation.
The environmental issues of Hazaribagh are positivelyanticipated to solve by the end of 2010, when the tanneries move to Savar. Whilethere is no room for effluent treatment plants in Hazaribagh, these facilitieswill be in primary focus at the proposed leather industry zone. Comprehensiverange of safety equipments will also be introduced. With the proposed shiftingof the tanneries, the old lifestyle of the place will come to an end meaningfor better changes.
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