The authorities’ decision to relocate chemical warehouses from the Dhaka city’s densely populated old part to Keraniganj has been facing bureaucratic tangle for nine years since 2010. The decision was taken after the devastating fire that broke out at Nimtoli killing 124 people and severely injuring 200 others. The slow pace of the relocation of the chemical warehouses only proves government order has been flouted without any reasonable cause. Since 2013, the Dhaka South City Corporation put off renewing trade licences of warehouses in the area but on Tuesday last Mayor Sayeed Khokon announced that the trade licences of chemical concerns based in Old Dhaka would be renewed. No new license, however, would be issued.
The Nimtoli fire was originated from a stove in a building that also housed a combustible chemical depot on its ground floor. Fuelled by chemicals, the fire engulfed eight residential buildings and at least 20 shops in a few minutes. In 2017, after another fire at Gulshan-1 Market, DSCC Mayor announced that chemical factories and depots would be shifted from this area, particularly from Old Dhaka. We must say, DSCC’s decision to renew the trade licences of chemical factories of Old Dhaka surely based on a wrong policy. Even the Environment Conservation Rules 1997 does not permit operating factories in and around residential areas.
What is more disturbing that, DSCC has not taken any step yet for the proposed ‘BSCIC Chemical Park’ project at Keraniganj as Dhaka Deputy Commissioner’s office did not acquire the needed land despite repeated requests. In the last fiscal, the government allocated Tk 201 crore for relocating 936 chemical concerns on a 50-acre area at Keraniganj. The relocation facilities were expected to complete by 2021. But the slow pace of the relocation facilities raises confusion among the concerned circles.
Government should immediately take step to ensure that the relocation orders are carried out without any fear or favour. Nobody can feel free by flouting government orders without any valid reason.
The Nimtoli fire was originated from a stove in a building that also housed a combustible chemical depot on its ground floor. Fuelled by chemicals, the fire engulfed eight residential buildings and at least 20 shops in a few minutes. In 2017, after another fire at Gulshan-1 Market, DSCC Mayor announced that chemical factories and depots would be shifted from this area, particularly from Old Dhaka. We must say, DSCC’s decision to renew the trade licences of chemical factories of Old Dhaka surely based on a wrong policy. Even the Environment Conservation Rules 1997 does not permit operating factories in and around residential areas.
What is more disturbing that, DSCC has not taken any step yet for the proposed ‘BSCIC Chemical Park’ project at Keraniganj as Dhaka Deputy Commissioner’s office did not acquire the needed land despite repeated requests. In the last fiscal, the government allocated Tk 201 crore for relocating 936 chemical concerns on a 50-acre area at Keraniganj. The relocation facilities were expected to complete by 2021. But the slow pace of the relocation facilities raises confusion among the concerned circles.
Government should immediately take step to ensure that the relocation orders are carried out without any fear or favour. Nobody can feel free by flouting government orders without any valid reason.
