Power plant served show-cause notice for polluting Halda river

Published at 07:34 pm July 8th, 2019

According to the allegation, the power plant has been releasing toxic waste into a canal linked to Halda river for long

The Department of Environment (DoE) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to state-owned 100MW Hathazari Peaking Power Plant on charge of releasing untreated toxic liquid waste into a water body linked to Halda river, Bangladesh’s largest natural breeding ground for carp.

A DoE team from Chittagong district office conducted a drive on Monday, and found that the power plant was dumping untreated liquid waste into a water body, through a bypass drain, which is a punishable offence as per Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act-1995 (Amended 2010), and Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules-1997 (Amended 2002).

Azadur Rahman Mollick, director of DoE, summoned the power plant authorities to explain as to why legal action should not be taken against them for polluting environment through discharging liquid waste.

When contacted, Maidul Islam, DoE Inspector of Chittagong district, told the Dhaka Tribune that the untreated liquid waste discharged by the power plant will take a heavy toll on the biodiversity particularly the aquatic animals of the Halda.

"The errant power plant was earlier warned verbally for not setting up an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). This time the power plant waited for an opportune moment, and released waste during heavy rains," said the DoE Inspector.

Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ruhul Amin said that taking advantage of heavy downpour, the power plant released its toxic waste into a water body linked to the Halda.

"Such callous attitude is unexpected. We will lodge a written complaint with the environment department in this regard," said the UNO.

Noted Halda researcher Prof Dr Manzoorul Kibria said: "The environment-damaging practice of the power plant is nothing new. We have been alleging for a long time that the power plant releases untreated waste threatening the aquatic environment of Halda river. This time our allegation has been proven as the plant was caught red handed. Such harmful activities by a state-owned enterprise is unacceptable."