The Bangladeshi Department of Environment (DoE) has fined Medina Tannery Taka 1.95 million ($27,738) due to environmental violations.
Located in the Jalalabad area of Chittagong, Medina has been charged with polluting the river Karnaphuli and violating environment laws. DoE inspectors imposed the fine on October 13 after inspecting the tannery.
Tannery waste was being discharged through the Shital Jhorna, Northern canal and the Baman Shahi canal, which fed into the Karnaphuli river.
The owner of the factory had been asked to build an effluent treatment plant (ETP), but had failed to do so. DoE inspectors found that the BOD levels from the tannery discharge were many times higher than the legal limit and the pH of the river water was 4.7.
The tannery has been ordered to relocate by January 31, 2011 otherwise the authorities will shut down the supply of utility services.
