Gas, power, water connections to Hazaribagh tanneries being cut

The Department of Environment has begun cutting off gas, power and water utility lines to leather factories in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh at the behest of the Supreme Court after failing to move operations out of the city, despite a court order.

According to Department of Environment Assistant Director General Sumar Krishna Das, lines had been cut to 30 leather factories in the area before 12pm on Saturday.

A team led by Department of Environment Director General Md Raisul Alam Mondul and composed of two officials from the Dhaka district and two magistrates from the department began the operation at 10am.

Their work was not disturbed, Dhaka Metropolitan Regional Director Sukumar Biswas told bdnews24.com.

“If the work is not completed today, the operation will continue tomorrow. No one is stopping us and everyone involved is cooperating.”

Telephone lines to the tanneries were cut off on Apr 4.

On Mar 30 the Supreme Court ordered the tanneries to finish relocating their operations before Apr 6.

Tanneries owners have been reluctant to move, despite repeated orders to shift their tanneries to the leather industrial zone at Savar.