Clicky
National, Back Page

Asian Paper Mill to stop production

Halda Pollution


Published : 18 Aug 2019 08:47 PM | Updated : 01 Sep 2020 08:04 PM

To safeguard the country’s one and the only natural carp breeding ground Halda River, The Department of Environment (DoE) on Sunday has ordered to stop the production of Chittagong Asian Paper Mill. Following the hearing at the department’s Chattogram office, its director Azadur Rahman Mallick passed the order to stop production of the mill’s untreated wastage dumped into the river directly, which polluted the water of the river. The paper mill is located at Nondirhat area of Hathazari Upazila in the district.

The department's deputy director Sanjukta Das Gupta told media that, even though they had been charged and warned, the company did not take any effective action in this regard. As a result, the department decided to stop its production. She further said, earlier they went to inspect the mill's waste treatment system on August 14. They found evidence of environment pollution by running the mill without setting up Liquid Effluent Treatment Plant and dumping waste into the river. In this situation, the organization was asked to participate in the hearing on August 18.

It was known that the mill has been polluting Halda for the last 12 years continuously. It is being alleged that with the support of an official of the Chittagong Environment Department, the organization is carrying out such unlawful activities. On June 10 this year, the authority fined the mill Tk 20 lakh for polluting Halda River and had asked them to set up Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) as earliest as possible.

Within two months of the incident, the authority again found proof of river pollution by the mill. Taking advantage of the Eid holiday, the mill authority dumped untreated waste again into the river. Hathazari UpazilaNirbahi Officer Ruhul Amin has the evidence. Earlier, water resource ministry secretary, Kabir Bin Anwar received complaints from local people and concerned officials regarding pollution of Halda River. He had advised the authorities concerned to take necessary action.

It is to be noted, Halda River is the largest natural fish breeding ground in Bangladesh and also a sanctuary for holday fish. This is the only pure Indian carp breeding field in Bangladesh. The river flows through Chattogram. The pollution is getting worse day by day. Chattogram City Corporation also dumps waste in Halda. Industrial waste is also dumped there.

According to a recent report by the Department of Environment (DoE), the discharge of industrial effluents into the Halda River is causing depletion of fish stocks. There are various types of activity going on along the banks of the river ranging from housing estates to tannery, paper mills, and power plants. Untreated liquid industrial waste leave rivers biologically dead as the level of dissolved oxygen, which is a must for the survival of fish and other aquatic animals, becomes very low. The LGRD has also blocked Halda’s flow by erecting a rubber dam. Effective steps must be adopted to punish the polluters. The authorities should protect both the river and fishermen who are dependent on the river.