Environmental impact assessment of tanneries : a case study of Hazaribag in Bangladesh

From the very beginning of industrialization in Bangladesh, tanning industries have been playing a significant role in the country’s economy. Due to its importance as a labor based export oriented industry the full flourish of this industrial sector is essential. But due to the absence of proper waste management, using inferior technologies, lack of facilities for treating industrial wastes; the tanning industries especially located in Hazaribag, Dhaka are aggravating environmental problems day by day. The discharging and dumping of wastes near the water bodies without treatment makes it almost look like an area which is lying under the blanket of pollution. It is an emerging problem not only for the environment but also as the social context of the country. This study focuses on the tanneries of Hazaribag located in Dhaka to assess the present situation arising from such activities and proposed several mitigation measures. This was done by analyzing the affects of various chemicals over human health and the surrounding environment. An Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was undertaken for assessing several physical, ecological, human use and socio-economic parameters of the surrounding environment of the area.