Coordination needed to curb air pollution: Taposh
We are spraying water regularly on roads and have given emphasis on planting trees. Hopefully, other government agencies will also pay more attention to reducing air pollution.
"Dust is being generated due to construction and development work of both private and government agencies. However, it hasn't reached an intolerable level," said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
"Due to a lack of coordination, construction works are continuing haphazardly. This has been going on for a long time. Now, no government organisation can do digging work as per its whim. Coordination among service providing agencies is more effective when compared to the past," he said. "I hope conditions will improve significantly within the next two years."
Asked about the Environment Protection Act 1995, the mayor said the city corporation is not the only stakeholder here. Other government agencies will also have to come forward to implement it.
"The work that the city corporation does is related to roads, and for that, it is not necessary to set up boundary sheds to control dust pollution. We make sure that the transport vehicles that carry construction materials are covered," he said.
"We are trying our best. For any gap or miscommunication, we have taken action against it."
Taposh said one of the main reasons behind air pollution is the use of fossil fuels and harmful substances emitted by industries.
Adulteration of fossil fuel, which is used in vehicles, is rampant . The department of power, energy and mineral resources; environment ministry; department of explosives; and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation are authorities that look after the matter, he said.
"We do not know if they are properly monitored… Carbon monoxide being released from transports is one of the major polluters. Apart from these, carbon dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, metallic particles and fumes from vehicles and industries continue to increase air pollution."
Regarding the corporation's work, the mayor said, "We are spraying water regularly on roads and have given emphasis on planting trees. Hopefully, other government agencies will also pay more attention to reducing air pollution."
Apart from this, it is also setting up secondary transfer stations on a ward-by-ward basis to curb air pollution under its garbage management work, the mayor added.
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