Indiscriminate discharge of liquid waste by the industries in and around Konabari Industrial Zone has ruined a large part of the Turag River, Saver, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Baimail jheel causing immense suffering to residents living on the banks.
Industrial liquid waste nd Black smog created by brick kilns have double the suffering and compelled many to move their houses.
Locals say brick kilns have left their fruit trees unproductive, while industrial waste exterminated fish in the river and nearby waterbodies, increased mosquitoes and made cropland infertile.
The Bangladesh Government established the Konabari, Bangladesh small and cottage Corporation (Basic) industrial area in the early 1980 to promote and expand small and cottage industries, Since than the industires are polluting surrounding environment despite getting different facility packages from the government.
Recently, the Basic authority have made a list of 152 polluter industries that include 56 dyeing and textile industries, 50 chemical and pharmacetuticals, nine food processin industiesand other 37 engineering industries, None of these industries has installed an effluent treatment plant (ETP )
The Basic provided the industrialists with land in a subsidised price alongwith many other facilities, But mostof the indusries are paying back indiscrimnately polluting the Environment. Since the begining the government was providing Tax holiday for five years and no import duty and vat for capital machinery for these polluters.Stinky blackish water was seen flowing in the Turag river as liquid waste falls in the river directly from the industries.Massive suffering of the people was witnessed during visit to the surrounding villages including Baimail, Kodda, Kashimpur and Konabari, Besides industrial waste, dust from the brick
kilns around adds to the suffering of the local inhanitants. We cannot use the Turag river water in any way even we cannot take bath there, Besides dust from the brick kilns in also causing much suffering to us. says Baimail villagers. Just 12 years ago the Turag River and Baimail jheel had a variety of fish, now no fish can suvive here. The industry waste has spoiled everything.