THE need for moving the tannery units away from city's Hazaribagh area has always been felt acutely by the environmentalists and the decision makers alike, considering the severe negative impact of the industry on environment. But little progress has been made to relocate them in Savar, even after three years of inauguration of the relocation project there.

The much-awaited relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to proposed 'leather estate' in Savar is facing various complications as the government and the industry owners have yet to settle several issues even three years after inauguration of the relocation project. Tannery owners are reluctant to shift their businesses until the government provides them with compensation and other facilities. However, the government is apparently not much willing to meet these demands. Complexity in setting up the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is also hindering the process, said sources.

YET another case of neighbourhood concerns about pollution and development. The Environment Appellate Authority (EAA) has passed an order May 6, directing the Chemplast Sanmar Ltd., Mettur, to obtain fresh clearance for its captive thermal power plant project.

From June 2008, around 120 industries in Bhutan will have to follow the industrial emission standards set up by the national environmental commission (NEC). However, an NEC report in November 2007 showed that most of the major factories were not within these new norms. The NEC, which will be monitoring these factories, as of now has only three technical staff with equipment yet to be purchased. In a related development, a pollution control team from Delhi, India, has said that Pasakha was too crowded with factories even if it eventually met emission standards.

The proposed coastal industrial corridor by the Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (INCAP) along the Andhra Pradesh coastline from Srikakulam to Nellore has attracted objections from the environmentalists, mass and some rights organisations.

The state government will set up a centre that will help industrial units abide by environmental norms. The environment compliance assistance centre

The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the government and the AP Pollution Control Board to pay compensation to farmers affected by pollution from industries in the Patancheru industrial area before the next hearing on June 9. A division bench comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and Justice C.Y. Somayajulu observed: "It is better to pay the compensation before the next hearing of the writ, otherwise interest will be imposed on the princial amount of compensation.'

The parents of the toxic industrial waste's victims have moved the Sindh High Court to annul a district and sessions' court order on March 26 that acquitted a factory owner and others in a case pertaining to dumping of highly toxic industrial waste in an open area in Site Town, which claimed the lives of two children and caused injuries to 15 others.

THE Madras High Court has restrained Sri Padma Chemicals Private Limited in Choonambedu village in Kancheepuram district from dumping its chemical waste on the lands outside the factory premises. The First Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan gave the direction on Friday last, while passing interim orders on a public interest writ petition from K Umanath of Thothacherry village. The bench also ordered notice to the authorities concerned returnable by June 9, 2008.