The government has embarked on a plan to install a central disposal plant for removing hazardous waste generated from shipyards in Chattogram. Experts are of the opinion that waste generated form shipyards is harmful to human health and it also pollutes environment to an alarming level. In this regard, the ministry of industries has undertaken an initiative to establish a central plant of disposal management system, including treatment, piling up and disposed of harmful waste generated from the yards. The disposal management system will be installed for the next three years at Chattogram.
A proposal for conducting feasibility of the project has been sent to the planning commission for the approval of the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC), an official told The Bangladesh Post on Wednesday. According to the project proposal, Bangladesh is one of the most renowned countries of the world for refurbishing ships. Bangladesh stands first place in recycling ships, according to the UNCTAD report 2018.
The cost of project would be around Tk five crore. The project aims to have a central management for the treatment storage and disposal facilities for removing hazardous materials from shipyards which will facilitate the protection of environment and keep human health good, the official said. Refurbishing for imported ships in the country may carry harmful materials causing harm to human health and environment pollution, he said, adding that labours and employees are involved in transferring these materials from ships.
It is mandatory for transferring and managing harmful materials from ships with acceptable method as per the Hong Kong International Convention on Ship Recycling. “Every year 200 ships have been refurbished in the country. This industry adds around Tk 6000 crore every year in the country’s economy. It is not possible for a ship recycler to remove such harmful materials from the ship,” the proposal said. Sources said the government gets Tk 1000 crore revenue annually from the industry.
