Authorities have directed the owner of an unauthorised cotton factory
that has been a nuisance for some 5,000 people in Phultala upazila
either to relocate it or close it down.
The factory, located at Poygram Hafrasta along Phultala-Sikirhat road,
has virtually remained closed following the directive, much to the
pleasure of the local people.
According to the locals, the cotton refining mill, Keya Cotton Mill,
has been in operation without having any clearance certificate from
the Department of Environment (DoE), causing sound pollution and
respiratory diseases among villagers.
As the frequent pleas of the locals fell on the deaf ears, they lodged
a written complaint with authorities concerned demanding immediate
relocation of the factory.
On receiving the complaints, Dr Tarun Kanti Shikder, director of
Khulna Divisional office of the DoE, recently inspected the
20-year-old factory and found the allegation of the locals valid.
Later, the DoE and the local administration on July 31 asked the
factory owner to stop its production and relocate it to a proper place
within the next seven days.
The DoE directive followed its rejection of an application earlier
submitted by the factory seeking an environmental clearance
certificate.
Sources at the DoE said the environmental regulatory authority did not
issue any clearance certificate to the cotton factory as numerous
cracks had developed on many parts of its high-rise building.
The DoE apprehended that the vulnerable building, which caught fire
several times in the past, might collapse any time, causing loss of
lives and property, an apprehension turned down by its owner Syed
Mohsin Ali. – UNB, Khulna
