Untreated toxic waste released from dying and printing units of a textile mill and a yarn dying mill in Tangail Sadar upazila is polluting Louhajang River. The pollution that goes on unabated for several years, now threatens fish, crops and greenery in the area, locals said. The local administration cannot take action against the authorities of the mills for pollution as the mills managed permission from the Directorate of Environment (DoE). Universal Yarn Dying was set up in BSCIC Industrial Area in Tangail Sadar upazila in 2003. According to Factory Act, the mill authorities have to dispose of the chemical waste in a pond or pit on its compound. But they released the dying unit toxic waste into adjacent Louhajang river through several pipelines since the mills operation began, locals said. Although the yarn dying mill has been polluting the river for last five years but the authorities concerned did not take any action against its authorities, they alleged. Sources in Tangail district administration, however, claimed the mill authorities were given reminders on several occasion to install its own waste treatment facilities. "No action, however, has been taken as the owners influential people," they added. When contacted, Masuduzzaman Talukdar, deputy manager (Production) of Universal Yarn Dying told The Daily Star that they are constructing a treatment plant in the factory compound. "The construction works of the treatment plant will end soon," he added. Mentionable, all waters, used in 75 small and big mills and factories in Tangail BSCIC, have also been falling into the Louhajang river through several drains for long. Badiuzzaman Khan, extension officer of BSCIC, however, claimed that the waste water of BSCIC, except Universal Yarn Dying, is not so harmful. Alauddin Textile Mills, set up at Khudirampur in Tangail Sadar upazila in 1995 on three acres of land beside Dhaka-Tangail road, has continued releasing huge untreated toxic wastes from its dyeing and printing units into the Louhajang River, defying Factory Act. In 2007, the mill authorities set up an effluent treatment plant (ETP) on the factory compound. Abdur Rahim, a medicine shop owner adjacent to the mill, however, alleged that the mill authorities keep suspended the operation of the treatment plant most of the time just to save costs, he said. This correspondent recently saw untreated red coloured toxic waste releasing into the river from the mill through pipelines. However, Mohammad Masud, manager (Administration) of Alauddin Textile Mill, denied the allegation of polluting river and blamed Tangail BSCIC responsible for the pollution. Skin disease specialist Dr Azharul Islam, also a resident Goshaibari Kumulli village adjacent to the mill, said diseases are spreading fast in the villages on Louhajang River banks as they use the toxic water. Fishes have almost gone lost in the river and lands using water from the river and its tributaries are becoming barren day by day due to pollution, said fisherman and farmers. "Mindless pollution and grabbing continues despite appeal to the Tangail district administration for saving the Louhajang River, said SM Helal Uddin, a retired district and sessions judge, now a resident of Gosaibari Kumulli village adjacent to the mill. When contacted, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Akhter Ali Sarkar said he has already sent his representatives to inquire into the matter.