It is heartening to note that university students are coming forward in a meaningful way to join their hands with those of the civil society and the media in ensuring good natural environment for the people at large.

The case in point is the seminar jointly organised by Save the Environment Movement and Department of International Relations (IR), Dhaka University on pollution and waste management: Tannery relocation to Savar. There four students of the IR department presented research findings on Hazaribag tannery relocation project by virtue of which we now have got a clear idea as to where the matter rests. Fifty percent of the relocation work appears to have been completed while the whole project was targeted to be implemented by 2005. We fully endorse the suggestion that a central effluent treatment plant for the tannery industry be set up in Savar to check pollution of water and degradation of environment in the proposed new industrial estate. One wouldn't expect a repeat of the same hazards in any form or shape in Savar. Furthermore, the potential opportunity of modernising the tannery industry from its totally archaic equipment status through the relocation scheme must be fully utilised.

The unfinished part of the relocation to Savar must be expeditiously implemented; for, if we are to spend another decade in finishing the remainder fifty percent of the job then severe damage would be done to environment within the city including perhaps pollution of the ground water.