Today our discussion is on

“Impact of tannery industry on environment”

Tannery Industries of BangladeshTannery Industries of Bangladesh

The first tannery in Bangladesh territory was set up at Narayanganj by RP Saha sometime in the 1940s. It was later shifted to Hazaribag area of Dhaka, which turned into a location that now accommodates a large number of tannery units.

The first tannery in Bangladesh territory was set up at Narayanganj by RP Saha sometime in the 1940s. It was later shifted to Hazaribag area of Dhaka, which turned into a location that now accommodates a large number of tannery units.

Tannery transforms raw hides and skins into leather for manufacturing articles like shoes, bag, suitcase, belt, wallet and jacket.

Tannery transforms raw hides and skins into leather for manufacturing articles like shoes, bag, suitcase, belt, wallet and jacket.

At present, there are about 170 tannery units in Bangladesh and they use locally available raw hides and skins. Of them 114 are large and medium units (by local standards) and are registered with the Directorate of Industries

At present, there are about 170 tannery units in Bangladesh and they use locally available raw hides and skins. Of them 114 are large and medium units (by local standards) and are registered with the Directorate of Industries

Impact on environmentImpact on environment

These are inevitable by-products of the leather manufacturing process and cause significant pollution unless treated in some way prior to discharge.

These are inevitable by-products of the leather manufacturing process and cause significant pollution unless treated in some way prior to discharge.

These industries affect our environment in various ways. The environment is under increasing pressure from solid and liquid wastes emanating from the Tannery industry.

These industries affect our environment in various ways. The environment is under increasing pressure from solid and liquid wastes emanating from the Tannery industry.

Stakeholders networking focusing on the issueStakeholders networking focusing on the issue

The public life cycle issueThe public life cycle issue

Phase 1: Changing stakeholder expectationsPhase 1: Changing stakeholder expectations

About half a million residents of Dhaka are at risk of serious illness due to chemical pollution from tanneries near their homes, according to a report released last year by the Bangladesh Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) and the most affected area is Hazaribagh, a community in the south-east corner of Dhaka, where 240 tanneries are located on 25 hectares of land, the report notes.

The report of SEHD says that:-

1. Numbers of the 8000–12 000 workers of tanneries suffer from gastrointestinal2. The SEHD report says that 58% of the tannery workers suffer from gastrointestinal disease (vs. 24% for the country as a whole), 31% from dermatological diseases (vs 9%), 12% from hypertension (vs 0.9%) and 19% from jaundice (vs. 0.07%).3. Dermatological and other diseases could be related to the pollution and that 90% of them die before the age of 50 vs less than 60% for the country. . About a quarter of these workers are under 11 years of age.

About half a million residents of Dhaka are at risk of serious illness due to chemical pollution from tanneries near their homes, according to a report released last year by the Bangladesh Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) and the most affected area is Hazaribagh, a community in the south-east corner of Dhaka, where 240 tanneries are located on 25 hectares of land, the report notes.

The report of SEHD says that:-

1. Numbers of the 8000–12 000 workers of tanneries suffer from gastrointestinal2. The SEHD report says that 58% of the tannery workers suffer from gastrointestinal disease (vs. 24% for the country as a whole), 31% from dermatological diseases (vs 9%), 12% from hypertension (vs 0.9%) and 19% from jaundice (vs. 0.07%).3. Dermatological and other diseases could be related to the pollution and that 90% of them die before the age of 50 vs less than 60% for the country. . About a quarter of these workers are under 11 years of age.

Phase 1: Changing stakeholder expectationsPhase 1: Changing stakeholder expectations

Why the stakeholders expectation change:- Though exporting processed leather is second highest foreign revenue earner of Bangladesh ,it has lost the keeping the interest of stakeholders for many reasons. Below discussion wiil clear the reason behind changing stakeholders expectation:-• Most of the tanneries are 30–35 years old and use mineral tanning processes• discharge about 6000 cubic metres of liquid effluent and 10 tons of solid waste every day, according to figures from the Bangladesh government and the Food And Agriculture Organization• tannery industries throw Chorium as waste which is a potential harmful chemical because of carcinogenic potential•Acidic effluents, it adds, can cause severe respiratory problems

• Gaseous emissions from the tanneries contain sulfur dioxide that is converted into sulfuric acid on contact with moisture and can damage lungs.• The tanneries emit bad odour and pollute the air beyond tolerable limits

Why the stakeholders expectation change:- Though exporting processed leather is second highest foreign revenue earner of Bangladesh ,it has lost the keeping the interest of stakeholders for many reasons. Below discussion wiil clear the reason behind changing stakeholders expectation:-• Most of the tanneries are 30–35 years old and use mineral tanning processes• discharge about 6000 cubic metres of liquid effluent and 10 tons of solid waste every day, according to figures from the Bangladesh government and the Food And Agriculture Organization• tannery industries throw Chorium as waste which is a potential harmful chemical because of carcinogenic potential•Acidic effluents, it adds, can cause severe respiratory problems

• Gaseous emissions from the tanneries contain sulfur dioxide that is converted into sulfuric acid on contact with moisture and can damage lungs.• The tanneries emit bad odour and pollute the air beyond tolerable limits

Phase 2: Political ActionPhase 2: Political Action

In tannery industry political action has a great impact. When the waste of tannery gets mixed with river water the environment is polluted. The toxic water is highly unhygienic and it is great threat for the environment. Most of our tannery industry is situated in the densely populated area which is near a river. The tannery has direct drain into the river and by this drain toxic water fall in river and it pollute the water therefore the environment become polluted by using this toxic river water the people suffer from different types of disease. Different types of political and social activist group come forward to reduce the sufferings of the mass people for this they campaign and do other awareness program. Then the issue draw the attention of government and other political parties. As a result of political action the tannery industry try to reduce the pollution by establishing E.P.T. for different types of political actions the industry owner are compelled to reduce the pollution to solve public issue.

In tannery industry political action has a great impact. When the waste of tannery gets mixed with river water the environment is polluted. The toxic water is highly unhygienic and it is great threat for the environment. Most of our tannery industry is situated in the densely populated area which is near a river. The tannery has direct drain into the river and by this drain toxic water fall in river and it pollute the water therefore the environment become polluted by using this toxic river water the people suffer from different types of disease. Different types of political and social activist group come forward to reduce the sufferings of the mass people for this they campaign and do other awareness program. Then the issue draw the attention of government and other political parties. As a result of political action the tannery industry try to reduce the pollution by establishing E.P.T. for different types of political actions the industry owner are compelled to reduce the pollution to solve public issue.

Phase 3: Formal Government ActionPhase 3: Formal Government Action

Much legislative action has been taken in favor of tannries industries during the past decade by our government. Tannries industries has been enacted nationally and in many district and cities. It creates some serious problem and detrimental affects among pepole of a country.Govt impose some rules,ragulation and obligation on this business to prevent and slove those problem creating by tannries industries. The followings are:1) They should obey the enviroment conservation act 1995 and enviroment conservation rules 1997.2) They have to use water refine system in the factories3) They must conscious of their using chemical.4) They must keep clean their work place and have to provide healthy uniform for their employess.

Much legislative action has been taken in favor of tannries industries during the past decade by our government. Tannries industries has been enacted nationally and in many district and cities. It creates some serious problem and detrimental affects among pepole of a country.Govt impose some rules,ragulation and obligation on this business to prevent and slove those problem creating by tannries industries. The followings are:1) They should obey the enviroment conservation act 1995 and enviroment conservation rules 1997.2) They have to use water refine system in the factories3) They must conscious of their using chemical.4) They must keep clean their work place and have to provide healthy uniform for their employess.

Phase 4: Legal ImplementationPhase 4: Legal Implementation

Legal Implementation starts when all previous phases of public life cycle issues (1. Changing stakeholder Expectations, 2. Political Actions 3. Formal Govt Actions) are come into vain. In this stage the gap between the public expectations and the actual corporations performances reach to a critical moment. We can see some negative effects of tannery industry –

1. Tannery discharges 21,600 square meters of liquid waste daily[UNB,NOV,2003]2. Produces 150 tons solid waste a day.[The Independent, May 09, 2006]3. Emits 22,000 cubic meters of untreated toxic waste a day.[The Daily Star, March 25,2003]

Legal Implementation starts when all previous phases of public life cycle issues (1. Changing stakeholder Expectations, 2. Political Actions 3. Formal Govt Actions) are come into vain. In this stage the gap between the public expectations and the actual corporations performances reach to a critical moment. We can see some negative effects of tannery industry –

1. Tannery discharges 21,600 square meters of liquid waste daily[UNB,NOV,2003]2. Produces 150 tons solid waste a day.[The Independent, May 09, 2006]3. Emits 22,000 cubic meters of untreated toxic waste a day.[The Daily Star, March 25,2003]

Phase 4: Legal ImplementationPhase 4: Legal Implementation

To control the pollution Government has introduced some legal obligations, laws, policies rules and regulations.

1. Environmental Conservation Act, 19952. Environmental Conservation Rules, 19973. Town Improvement Act, 19534. Industrial Policy, 19995. Environment Policy, 1992 All these laws and regulations are implemented to protect the environment from pollution caused by tannery industry. And now tannery owners are trying to shift their industry to Savar. As a result our Dhaka would be pollution free in coming decades

To control the pollution Government has introduced some legal obligations, laws, policies rules and regulations.

1. Environmental Conservation Act, 19952. Environmental Conservation Rules, 19973. Town Improvement Act, 19534. Industrial Policy, 19995. Environment Policy, 1992 All these laws and regulations are implemented to protect the environment from pollution caused by tannery industry. And now tannery owners are trying to shift their industry to Savar. As a result our Dhaka would be pollution free in coming decades