CETP lacks desalinisation component

We are stunned as to how planners of the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate failed to plan for a desalinisation facility when designing the central effluent plant (CETP)! The saga of relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh has been going on for more than a decade, and after all the drama of the CETP installation, we are now faced with yet another river turning toxic. We are informed that the CETP installed at the new location cannot integrate a desalinisation facility, although the Industries Minister informs us that officials have been directed to find a solution. We wonder whether the other alternative that would require the individual tanneries to install de-dusting machines can be implemented at all, and if so, would that help in mitigating the situation.

In the meantime the Dhaleshwari River will continue to be polluted by an estimated 40,000 tonnes of salt annually by the tannery industry, which is in the process of relocating to Savar. With the CETP unable to handle the salt used, the saline and waste water will be discharged into the river. So, the country is now confronted with the possibility of the polluting tannery industry that is largely credited with destroying the eco-system of Buriganga River inflicting the same consequences on the Dhaleshwari. Only this time, we cannot pin the blame on the industry.

We wonder how long this game will continue. If it takes decades to solve one environmental problem, how long will it take to solve the more complex ones resulting from climate change?