The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday fined a steel mill in Chittagong Tk 10 lakh and suspended its environment clearance certificate for emitting toxic gas.
A team led by Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, director of DoE (monitoring and enforcement, asked the authorities of Ehsan Steel Mills in Charpatharghata to install pollutant gas extraction equipment within 25 days.
In default of complying with the direction, DoE will file a case against the factory authorities and snap utility connections of the facility, said a press release signed by the DoE director.
The factory authorities undertook to set up air treatment unit within the given timeframe, the press release added.
The steel factory has been emitting toxic sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides at a much higher level than that is tolerable. The gases cause serious health hazards to workers and the locals, many of who raise livestock.
