Dhaka: A joint team from the Department of Environment’s (DoE) Monitoring and Enforcement Wing, Dhaka Laboratory, and Dhaka Metropolitan Office carried out an inspection in the Shyamnagar Kadamtali industrial area today. At the outset of the drive, the team observed direct discharge of polluted water into the Buriganga River through a pipeline.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, water samples were immediately collected from the discharge point for laboratory analysis, as mentioned in a press release of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The inspection further revealed that two dyeing factories had non-operational Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), which resulted in untreated industrial wastewater flowing into the drainage system. Water samples from these discharges were also collected, and upon being alerted, both factories promptly activated their ETPs.
Local sources reported that approximately 49 dyeing and washing factories are operational in the area. The inspection team recommended implementing regular monitoring of waste discharge and ETP functionality. They suggested a roster-based monitoring system under the supervision of the Dhaka Metropolitan Office.
During the visit, a director of the DoE emphasized the need to organize a coordination meeting involving the factory owners’ association, Dhaka WASA, and the city corporation to formulate an action plan. Based on the lab test results of the collected samples, legal action will be taken following an enforcement hearing, the press release added.