Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Sunday exonerated the tannery owners who failed to relocate their factories to Savar from paying Tk 30.85 crore as fine.

It also asked the authorities concerned to provide gas, power and water connections to the tanneries in Savar Tannery Estate within 15 days.

A four‐member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order following a leave‐to‐appeal petition filed by tannery owners, seeking reconsideration of the earlier SC order over the payment of Tk 10,000 per day for polluting environment until the relocation of the factories.

The court, however, asked the 142 tannery owners to pay one‐time Tk 50,000 which will be spent for rehabilitation of the tannery workers and staff.

The court asked the authorities concerned to ensure so that wastes emitted from the tanneries in Savar do not fall into the Dhaleshwari River, warning of taking legal action in case of failure.

Advocate Syed Amirul Isalm, Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash and Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury stood for the tannery owners.

Earlier, on 30 March, The Supreme Court ordered all 154 tannery owners to relocate the tanneries from Hazaribagh area of Dhaka city to Savar by 6 April.

The court also fixed April 9 for hearing petition on the fines the tannery owners were asked to pay for not relocating their factories in time.

Meanwhile, the utility services – power, gas and water—to all the Hazaribagh tanneries were disconnected on Saturday following a High Court order.

Earlier on 6 March, the High Court directed the government to immediately shut down the Hazaribagh tanneries and disconnect all of their utility services, including gas line, power and water, as they missed several deadlines to relocate their factories to the Savar Tannery Estate.