Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, Climate Change, Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that `degraded airsheds` will be declared soon to control air pollution in Dhaka metropolis. An expert committee will be formed to give scientific recommendations in this regard.
The Environment Advisor said these things while addressing an important meeting held at the Department of Environment (DoE) in Agargaon today to take effective steps to prevent air pollution in the capital. She instructed the officials of the DoE to take effective measures to prevent air pollution in Dhaka.
The environmental advisor said in the meeting that a committee will be formed to identify the sources of air pollution in the surrounding areas of Dhaka and that brick kilns will be banned in important areas, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Ramgati in Lakshmipur, to control them.
The environmental advisor said that a continuous campaign will be conducted against expired vehicles in collaboration with BRTA. She instructed the officials of the DoE to take legal action in cases of dumping construction materials everywhere, burning them in parks or open places, and burning leaves.
She also said, "The people and the community must be involved in the implementation of the `Zero Soil` program in Dhaka city. No place in Dhaka city can be left fallow, trees must be planted everywhere. Awareness measures must be taken by identifying hotspots of leaf burning. Letters must be given to all educational institutions in this regard, and advertisements must be broadcast in the media."
She ordered a drive against sand dumping in the Amin Bazar area and urged volunteers to be actively involved in tree planting.
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation Mohammad Ejaz; Additional Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanam; Director General of the DoE Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman; officials of the Ministry of Environment, DoE, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, and representatives of various organizations were present in the meeting.
