Diesel tank leak: Cropland at risk of being polluted in Sitakunda

More than one acre of farmland is likely to be affected and crops are being feared damaged after three thousand liters of diesel oil spilled from a tank of CP Bangladesh Co Ltd in Teriail Bazar area of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram early this morning (September 21, 2022).

Locals are worried that the oil spill will damage their crops, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent.

Abu Bakkar, a farmer of the area, told The Daily Star that "Our harvests will be wiped out as the cropland has been affected by the diesel spill."

"We have issued a demand for compensation to the factory management," he said.

"Following the accident, a team of the Department of Environment (DoE) collected a sample of the spilled diesel oil," said Ashraf Uddin, assistant director of the DoE Chattogram District office.

Three tanks with 9,000 liters of diesel were used to power the factory generators and diesel was poured from one of the tanks into the factory's adjacent farmland, he said.

Ashraf Uddin said the accused factory administrators have been called in for a hearing. "If they harm the environment, they will have to pay a fine," he added.

Billal Hossain, manager of CP Bangladesh Co. Ltd. (Chittagong Hatchery), admitted that the tank leaked around 4am and the diesel fell into the land beside the factory.

"However, we have already removed fuel from the crops. But we've urged the farmers who own the crops to get in touch with us if any of their crops are harmed," the manager added.