The Prime Minister and Parliament Leader Tarique Rahman said that various steps are being taken under the Local Government Department to make the capital Dhaka a clean and green city.
He said this in response to a written question from Member of Parliament Md. Abul Kalam in the National Parliament session on Wednesday (April 29). Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed presided over the session.
The Prime Minister said that various steps are being taken under the Local Government Department through Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations to make the capital Dhaka a clean and green city. Among these, public awareness activities are being taken on a weekly basis to increase citizen awareness and involvement, as well as special cleanliness and mosquito control activities are being strengthened.
In order to modernize secondary transfer stations (waste disposal sites), waste management is being carried out in an environmentally friendly manner by including landscaping, greening and awareness graffiti work. Tree plantation activities have been undertaken to green the road medians, road islands and open spaces of Dhaka South City Corporation area.
In addition, Dhaka South City Corporation has taken a plan to convert all waste into zero waste by converting Matuail Landfill into an integrated circular economy-based waste management and energy production center with the investment of a Korean-based private company.
Urban forestry (Miyawaki Forest) is being covered with open median zero soil/green in various areas under Dhaka North City Corporation.
A target of 5 lakh tree plantation has been set in the areas under Dhaka North City Corporation in the next 5 years.
Trees will be planted in the empty areas under the Metrorail (from Mirpur-12 to Mirpur DOHS) and under the elevated expressway (from Abdullahpur to Farmgate).
He said, in order to develop the capital Dhaka as a clean and green city, the Department of Environment has given priority to controlling environmental pollution in Dhaka city. For this purpose, the Department of Environment has taken the following measures - among them, the Department of Environment and the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) are jointly taking initiatives to launch modern bus services and 250 electric buses to control air pollution in Dhaka. Significant sources of air pollution in Dhaka have already been identified with the help of the World Bank. Accordingly, the Department of Environment is working to control air pollution in Dhaka. Regular mobile courts are being conducted against air pollution caused by black smoke emitting vehicles, construction activities and construction materials.
In addition, initiatives have been taken to close illegal polluting brick kilns located around Dhaka to prevent air pollution in Dhaka city. Regular mobile courts and enforcement activities are being conducted for this purpose.
Furthermore, in order to reduce air pollution in Dhaka city, Savar Upazila of Dhaka has been declared a degraded airshed and activities such as brick kiln operations, open burning of waste, etc. have been banned in that area. To prevent pollution of rivers, canals and water bodies in and around Dhaka, it has been made mandatory for institutions emitting liquid waste to set up ETPs (Effluent Treatment Plants). So far, ETPs have been set up in 248 institutions and Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are being installed for real-time monitoring of the ETPs set up to treat the liquid waste of the institutions.
The Department of Environment has already determined the sources and nature of pollution in the Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu, Turag rivers. At the same time, the sources and nature of pollution in 19 main canals flowing in Dhaka city have been determined.
Tarique Rahman said that with the aim of covering Dhaka city with greenery, reducing environmental pollution and enhancing the beauty of the city, the Forest Department has jointly implemented tree plantation and zero soil programs on road medians, U-loops, pending areas and canal banks by signing a memorandum of understanding with Dhaka North/South City Corporation, Water Development Board and Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department.
He further said that 41,565 saplings of various species of fruit, forest, medicinal and ornamental trees have been planted under this program.
