Govt bodies contributing to air pollution
Rather than reducing air pollution, government institutions actually contribute to it, environmental activists alleged at a press conference in the capital’s Kalabagan yesterday.
At the programme, activists from Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) and Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) observed that institutions such as the city corporations, Rajuk, and some relevant ministries worsen the quality of air through unplanned development activities, including random road and sewer line repairs and metro rail construction.
These sources are among the greatest pollutants of Dhaka, along with brick kilns, unfit vehicles and heavy industry, the speakers said citing research.
They urged the government to immediately come up with a specific action plan to check air pollution, which has recently become a major health concern for the city’s inhabitants.
“After Delhi, Dhaka will be addressed as a ‘gas chamber’ soon if pollution keeps rising...,” said Poba Chairman Abu Naser Khan.
Presenting a keynote paper on the current situation of air pollution, Poba Secretary Fardous Ahmed Uzzal said Bangladesh is one of the countries with high number of air pollution-related deaths of children.
About 1.4 lakh people die from various diseases caused by air pollution every year, he said citing a study.
The government is supposed to work on reducing air pollution, but it does the opposite, he alleged.
“Pollution could be reduced significantly if the government’s development activities were undertaken with caution,” said Fardous.
Among others, Poba General Secretary Abdus Sobhan, BARCIK Director Syed Ali Biswas and Coordinator Jahangir Alam also spoke at the press conference.
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