ORIGIN

East West University is institutes that promote eastern culture and values and meaningfully blend eastern and eastern thought and innovation. To do this it provides undergraduate degree pm different major subjects like Marketing, HRM, and Economics etc. Environmental Science & Ecology (GEN 203) is one of the courses of BBA program. Precisely it teachers how invironment polluted by the Hazaribari Tennery.

While doing the course we have learned the factors of influencing buyers decisions, learning’s, attitude, memory, self-concept and so many. To implement all of those or in other Behavior has given us this assignment on “Hairobics Men’s Saloon”.

OBJECTIVES

By doing the report, we will be able to know the acject senerio of the Envionment Hazard by Hazaribari Tennery, their leather processing system, workers life and chemicel used in tennery. We will also be able to know the current situation of the Hazaribari Tennery and how they polluted the environment. We will be exploring the facts how individuals get influenced to work at leather industries. What do they feel like effect on environment hazard by this tennery industry?

SCOPE

This report is prepared concentrating on Hazaribari Tennery. The area of the survey was only in Hazaribari Tennery through the workers, industry manazer, industry incharger and local people. So all the inference will be made based on the Hazaribari area basically. It is a comprehensive report based on structured questionnaire survey, data calculation, propels opinion, our perception and knowledge, books of Environmental Science & Ecology, newspaper and so on. The actual work of this meticulous report started on 12 April 2011.

LIMITATIONS

While preparing the report we had to face some problems.

1. Lack of information from the people.

2. Lack of internet data to made it.

3. Time shortage was one of the major problems for us.

4. There were electricity problems.

5. Then lacking of awareness/ information among the people were another major problems. In many case we found people having no idea regarding the “Hazaribari Tennery’s” leather processing system.

BACKGROUND

Leather industry in Bangladesh is one of the most profitable and significantly important sectors no doubt. It is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner of the country contributing about six per cent of total export earnings. At the first sight, it may be viewed as one of the most promising and contributing sectors in the economy. The economic benefit produced by the tannery industry to the economy as well to our society. Which is gaining both economic and industrial importance now a day. The migration of leather tanning activity from developed to developing countries over the past four decades has also helped this manufacturing activity to increase. The main tannery area is at Hazaribagh in Dhaka. Since precautionary and protective measures have not been taken from the beginning, the environmental condition of Hazaribagh area has been deteriorating for many years. In the early twenty, this industry started its walking in Hazaribagh. According to the ministry of industry, there were only 30 tanneries owned by west Pakistani businessman in Hazaribagh during 1965. There are about 270 tanneries in the whole Bangladesh. The significant portions of the tanneries (90% of 270) are located in Hazaribagh, a very densely populated area in the megacity of Dhaka in Bangladesh. This industry is located in 25 hectares of land in Hazaribag.

Hazaribagh is an old tannery district of Dhaka in Bangladesh. Around 206 leather tanneries from Hazaribagh will either shut down their operations, or shift to a different part with 30,000 workers and equipments moving simultaneously. Although the government is persuading the tannery owners to start shifting their factories from Hazaribagh to Savar, most of them are reluctant to relocate their plants as a central effluent treatment plant (CETP) has not yet been built at Savar. A High Court order is also pending on the proposed CEPT. Besides, most of the commercial banks are refusing to transfer the existing mortgages in Hazaribagh to the new sites at Savar. It will take at least another 15 to 18 months to build the treatment plant. As such, the owners say it is not possible to start shifting before such problems are resolved. Moreover, they say moving to Savar leather estate without a CETP is the same as staying at Hazaribagh. The issue of compensation for relocation costs should also be considered before the shifting, especially in the light of losses to the industry due to global economic downturn.

The government is now asking the tannery owners to bear the CETP building cost, to be paid in installments over a 20-year period. The owners however said, according to the agreement signed between the industries ministry and them, the government is supposed to construct the CETP and hand it over to the owners for maintenance after two years. Approximately 200 plots have been allocated so far to 154 tannery owners to date on 23^rd June 2009. The High Court ordered all tanneries in Hazaribagh to leave the area by February 28, 2010. The court also ordered all industries to set up effluent treatment plants by June the same year. As per the ruling of the bench, factories polluting the environment would either have to install ETPs or suitable devices within June 2010 or would be closed in July that year. The bench also asked the Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner to provide the authorities concerned with sufficient logistics and police forces to close the eco-unfriendly industries. The court said it would continue proceedings of the case until its directives to prevent environmental pollution are implemented. But still leather industry is there. Construction works on the Leather Industrial City, Dhaka began in 2003. A tender was called for the construction of the CETP twice in 2006. A third tender was called in 2007 and two firms submitted bids. A Bangladesh-Singapore joint ventured WBDC, JV won the contract. But the government was forced to halt the deal on charges of forged documents. WBDC, JV in turn sued the government for cancelling the contract.

Terms for the CETP were revised in 2007, saying that the cost of its construction would be collected from the plot owners through installments. Indeed, the government's inaction in installing a waste treatment plant has been delaying the relocation of the leather industries. It was scheduled to hand over the industrial estate to the tanners by 2010 as per agreement. Escalation of project cost by almost five times is the main cause of delay in the project work. The complex procedure for inviting fresh tender for CETP is taking too long. The government had prepared the first project proposal in 2003. According to the proposal, the estimated cost of the three-year project was Tk 1.75 billion that increased to Tk 5.45 billion in the revised proposal in 2007. In 2003, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters' Association (BFLLFEA) and Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) signed a tripartite agreement to implement the project. The government took the decision to relocate Hazaribagh tanneries to Savar to save the capital and Buriganga river from toxic pollution caused by waste disposed from the tanneries.

Tanneries of Hazaribagh usually dump their effluents into the drain that leads to River Buriganga, flowing through Dhaka. Most of the workers from these tanneries work in primitive conditions. These kinds of tanneries are a hallmark of this place. Workers without any protective clothing walk around the tanneries handling corrosive chemicals. Most of them do not wear boots or gloves, and handle the machinery with bare hands. No one wears a mask, and there are no safety fountains for eye-washing. Their homes are built very close to the streams that are regularly being contaminated by the hazardous discharges of these tanneries.

Nevertheless, industrial waste is polluting especially the soil of the agri-land surrounding the urban centres. The liquid and solid industrial wastes greatly pollute the topsoil which is highly productive and suitable for plant growth. Industrial wastes bring about great changes in the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the soil. Thus, industrial wastes lead to deterioration of soil quality that is supposed to spell disaster for the continuation of different species of flora and, through the links in the food chain, different species of fauna. The problem is acute in the agri-lands surrounding the urban area of the developing countries like Bangladesh. Here, untreated wastes are dumped around the industrial units producing these. After five years of the launch of the project named Dhaka Tannery Estate Project (DTEP), the Buriganga River experienced further pollution. Moreover, residents in the western part of the capital are set to face onslaught of toxic liquid waste in the coming days as the tannery waste is still being dumped in the Buriganga after the tanneries were shifted from Narayanganj about 45 years ago. About 22,000 cubic meters of untreated and highly toxic liquid waste from over 200 tanneries flow through the canals into the Buriganga, the lifeline of the capital, everyday. The tanneries located in a 25-hectare-area are responsible for dumping the untreated and highly toxic liquid waste near the locality where around 20,000 people live. Moreover, every day 100 tones of solid waste including trimmings of finished leather, shaving dusts, hair, fleshing, trimming of raw hides and skins are dumped into the Buriganga, posing a serious threat to the environment.

The tanneries and other related industries are dumping 7.7 million liters of toxic liquid waste into the river Buriganga, not to mention the 88 tones of solid wastes disgorged everyday by them into the same river. The bleak outlook of the project is underscored by its cost escalation; what started out as an estimated cost of Tk 1.75 billion is set to escalate now by Tk 1.87 billion. Every day nearly 22,000 cubic meters of untreated and highly toxic liquid waste are released from tanneries that flow through the canals into the Buriganga, the lifeline of the capital, according to the DoE. Also about 100 tones of solid waste including trimmings of finished leather, shaving dusts, hair, fleshing, trimming of raw hides and skins are dumped into the Buriganga, posing a serious threat to the environment. Most of the European Union (EU) counties are set to pass new policies that will bar import of products from industries that pollute environment with harmful chemical agents and do not have individual or central effluent plant. As such, the shifting should be completed as early as possible keeping in mind the impending EU legislation, or else it would hurt the export-oriented industry.

The government contended that the construction work of the basic infrastructure and sewerage has already been completed. It is going to float a fresh tender soon for setting up the CETP. In any way, the relocation process has to be accelerated. All procedures to invite the fresh tender should be expedited. In order to save the industry from impending losses, the tannery owners should start the preliminary stages of shifting without further delay. Tanning and making leather involves the application of numerous chemicals, most of which are potentially harmful to the workers, environment and the public. An estimate states that 70% of the tanneries total operating costs would be for the raw animal hides, 10% will be spent on chemicals, and the remaining 20% for salaries, utilities, and other expenses. Sodium sulfide, sodium hydrosulfide, caustic soda, lime, and sulfuric acid are a few chemicals used in the tanning process. The chemicals used for tanning will rot if it is not treated properly. Apart from this, chromium based chemicals are also used for chrome tanning. This is generally used to turn the hide into a bluish-white color so as to store it for a longer time. During the finishing process, various finishing agents, and dyes are used to improve the look and characteristics of the leather.

METHODOLOGY

Our Hypothesis is:

Environmental & health problem may increase if the current condition exists in Tannery for more years.

Primary data collected through some direct interviews.

Industry workers : sample size (10)

Industry in-charges : sample size (2)

Industry managers : sample size (5)

Family : sample size (4)

· Questions asked during interviews are on:

Ø How do you collect the leather?

Ø What price you like to buy for one piece lather?

Ø How much leather you buy a year normally?

Ø Was the leather preserved before you bought?

Ø What process do you use to preserve the leather?

Ø What chemicals do you use in processing the leather?

Ø What chemicals do you use for preservation?

Ø Do you use any chemicals for further preservation?

Ø Where are the toxics dumped?

Ø Do you have any reclining process to make the toxic chemicals for environment friendly?

Ø Who works in the preservation and processing session?

Ø Do they have any scope of health checkup?

Ø Do you provide any sort of safety for the chemical workers?

Ø Where is the processed leather dried?

Ø Who are involved with this drying process?

Ø Do they have any respiratory problems?

Ø What is the extent to which the air and water is polluted?

Ø What was the health condition before they engaged in this industry?

Ø How does this industry affect the local people’s activities?

Ø Do local people have any health problems due to pollution caused by this industry?

Ø How the government is thinking to solve the pollution related to this industry?

Ø What is the perception of the people about this industry?

Ø Do the labors use any mask, globes and any protection during the leather processing time?

Ø What are the probable pollutions caused by this industry?

Ø How long you can preserve the leather?

Ø Do workers have any training facilities?

THE POINTS OF FOCUS

Ø Chemicals used in preservation and processing and different impact of chemicals on human health.

Ø Labor engaged during chemicals mixings and Protections used during processing, preservation and chemicals mixing session.

Ø Health problem of local people and industry employee.

Ø Wastage dumping to the Burigonga River.

Ø All probable pollutions caused by this industry

FINDINGS

Chemicals used in processing and preservation.

PRIMARY PRESERVATION:

First step of preservation before storing the raw materials they use only salt to keep it sustainable for months (1 to 3).

SECONDARY PRESERVATION:

Chemicals used for secondary preservation

They used Sodium formate, soda, Liam, Formic acid, Salt, Sodium hydrosulphide, Low sulphide unhearing agents, Caustic, vegetable oil, amino acid etc.

PROCESSING STAGE:

Wet blue processing:

This is the first stage of processing of leather. In this process they use Water, lime & sulfide are used which become very alkaline, above PH-12. By this process they wash the leather for the first time and remove all wool from the leather.

Liming:

They use liming process for improve the thickness of the leather. In this stage they use only lime.

Flashing:

In this process the remove all un-necessary part of the leather. Mention that here they remove surface part/chest of the leather. Basically they do this process for plain the leather.

Deliming:

They use plain water for removing lime used earlier process.

Drying:

Finally they dry the leather on the hanger.

Cutting:

Here they slash the leather into two pieces.

Ironing:

By keeping the leather on a flat bed they make in ironed. After ironing it can be kept for at least 2 years.

CHEMICAL MIXING STAGE:

By observing the particular industry we got to know that the same worker used for different section of the chemical mixing process in every day processing stage. They use a very confined room for mixing the chemical there are lots of chemicals like amino acid, chromium sulphate with lime etc. used for processing which is very harmful to health and it is very alarming not to use any kind of protection the resultant several workers died few months back and it has happened because of unawareness and the relaxation regarding chemist supervision. Sometimes they use one chemical several times.

UN-AWARENESS IN PROCESSING:

Most of the time the workers are not provided any gloves, masks, optical, shoes that may lead to accident.

LABOR ENGAGED DURING CHEMICALS MIXINGS:

As we said earlier that the same workers are used in different section though they do not have any learning and they are not even provided any training so it is quite risky for the workers to work here.

Labor aging above 18 year.
Mixing in a closed room.
No direct supervision from any chemist.
In different chemical mixing process the same labor working in everyday mixing process.
Labors rarely use masks, gloves, optical, shoes etc.
No proper training facilities.

HEALTH PROBLEM OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND INDUSTRIES EMPLOYEES:

INDUSTRIES EMPLOYEES:

Basically the people who are working in this particular sector are unemployed for long time and could not find any suitable job that is the reason why they get engaged themselves in to this sort of workplace which is completely unhealthy and hazardous and can lead to severe health problem in the long run. The dieses they are facing are as follows

• Respiratory and skin disease, headache, vomiting, fever in the very early stage of joining and sexual problem as well.

• Seems like no problem as they get accustomed with the environment.

LOCAL PEOPLE:

This is completely in capable place for living according to the environmentalists. People are living here with lots of difficulties, the water they use for survival is somewhat contaminated and it is because of unplanned drainage system of the leather industry. However the problem local people face are:

• More prone to cancer and heart attack

• Degree of illness increases

• Contaminated Air problem

• Water problem

• Insect problem

WATER POLLUTION:

The wastage of the lather is being disposed in BURIGONGA River. Different types of chemicals mixed during the processing are dumped through the drain which are totally unplanned hence in the rainy season it flows over that causes different types of skin diseases. It needs to be motioned that after electricity goes water supply stops and contaminated water flows near about half an hour local people said.

SOIL FERTILITY:

Toxic water is damaging the soil fertility hence area surrounded the dumping zone is completely unfavorable for tree plantation.

FOOD POLLUTION:

CROM: Croms are made from the finished leather drust. Which is very much unhyzenic for the human body and health as well.

POULTRY FEED: poultry feed made from the un-used chemical. They collect used chemical from the drain and top of the soil where this chemical kept together. And then they used it to make poultry feed.

ANALYSIS

We are using a table for compare the data which we get from the two groups of people:

Criticizes & local people’s point of view	Actual findings from the survey (Industry point of view)
The labor have many health problems	60% say no health problem. But very first of joining they faced some problems.
Don’t have direct chemist supervision	Do not agree
3 employees die within 2 year because of Toxic chemical reaction In Apex leather industry is an example of not having chemist supervision and protection.	t was an accident as managers and supervisors of Apex leather industry said
80% of air pollution for HAZARIBAG area caused by this leather industry	This industry have insignificant contribution to air pollution
Water polluted by the leather industry	Inherent problem / govt. is responsible for this.

CONCLUSION

As a normal practice tanners need to treat their effluents before they discharge it into the environment. But, this practice is not followed in Hazaribagh. Tanneries in this area discharge around 21, 600 square meters of liquid wastes every day. Leather industry, which is the fourth largest foreign exchange generator of the country, contributes to 6% of the total export earnings. The industry produces 150 metric tons of solid waste everyday spoiling the environment and human lives. The Government is not showing much interest in the environmental impact caused by the industries. Leather manufactured from this place is being shipped to the US and Europe, and other parts of the world for further processing. With the current trend of more focus towards ethical manufacturing process, countries are much interested towards the way in which their products are manufactured. They focus on the fact that it is done in a way that does not infect the environment. Most of the chemicals used in these tanneries are from foreign countries. The European Commission is considering about banning the leather imported from Hazaribagh due to its manufacturing process. Pressure of these countries has actually made the tanneries to attempt relocation. So by the overall desiccation we can say that immediate need to proper inspection by Govt. to remain this industry alive and keep environment friendly.