Dhaka:  Green activists have demanded immediate cancellation of the plots of those tanners who failed to relocate their factories from Hazaribagh to Savar within the stipulated time.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, they urged the authorities concerned to disconnect utility services like electricity, gas and water connections to all the tanneries still running in Hazaribagh area.

Paribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba), a non-government environmentalist organisation, arranged the press conference at its Kalabagan office in Dhaka to present its observations on tannery relocation.

Reading out a keynote paper, Poba general secretary Abdus Sobhan said relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar and starting their operation ensuring no harm to environment is very important considering public health and environment.

But, he said, a Poba team visited the Savar tannery estate on Tuesday last and observed that the progress of tannery building construction is very slow.

Sobhan said although two modules of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant were completed in the tannery estate, the units are yet to start operation. ‘The tanneries, which have started operation in Savar, are releasing solid wastes to the Dhaleshwari River polluting its water and arable land,’ he said.

The Poba general secretary called upon the authorities concerned to take legal action against the tanneries which are polluting rivers and environment in Savar.

The green activists urged the government to realise Tk 2,600 crore from the tanners as environmental compensation under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995.

Poba chairman Abu Naser khan, its coordinator Atiq Morshed and joint secretary Nazrul Islam were, among others, present at the press conference.