In the wake of severe air pollution in the capital since middle of this year, the government is framing a policy to improve air quality. The government has decided that from now on, if anyone builds something in the capital, the construction should be completed without any pause. Otherwise, a fine would imply for starting to rebuild the construction. Water should be sprinkled twice a day during construction phase to prevent flying dust from polluting the atmosphere.
Moreover, if construction materials are transported openly without covering, legal action would be taken. These decisions were taken at a meeting of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Tuesday in the Secretariat. The decisions would be included in the said policy being formulated under the title of ‘Reduce air pollution around Dhaka’.
During last few days, dust pollution is choking Dhaka once again. A sharp drop in temperatures and wind speed, combined with vehicle and industrial emissions, dust from building sites and smoke from the burning of waste, has increased pollution in the capital. A high-level committee was formed to formulate policies to prevent and reduce air pollution around Dhaka city.
The second meeting of the committee was chaired by Environment and Forest Secretary Md Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury. Construction, reconstruction and repair of roads, various utility services and buildings should be well covered during construction. The issue is discussed in the policy formulation. The decision was made to include the repair of damaged roads within the fastest possible time and also to sprinkle water twice a day during construction. The committee meeting proposed to include in the policy a legal action against environmental pollutants by carrying to transport sand, soil, cement and other construction materials in open trucks or lorries.
It was also informed in the meeting that the policy would also include strict measures to control the conservation and burning of municipal waste along the road. A preliminary decision was taken that a regular mobile court would be included in the policy to stop the polluting smoke emitting vehicles. The preliminary decision was taken to finalize the policy on an urgent basis, including recommendations from the relevant departments and offices subject to detailed review of the draft policy.
Among others, Additional Secretary (Environmental Pollution Control) Alamgir Muhammad Mansurul Alam, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, Director General of the Department of Environment, representatives of various offices and organizations were present as members of the committee.
It is to be noted that the High Court on November 24 directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to form a high-powered committee to take urgent action to reduce air pollution around Dhaka city. The capital city of Bangladesh has been ranked the worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI) for the third consecutive time.
