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The government has adopted a 12-point action plan to transform the capital, Dhaka, into a “clean and green city,” reports bdnews24.com
On Wednesday morning, during the Prime Minister’s Questions session in parliament, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the action plan in response to a question from Dhaka-9 MP Abul Kalam.
The premier said, “Various initiatives are being implemented through the Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation under the Local Government Division to develop Dhaka into a clean and green city. Alongside weekly public awareness programmes to increase civic awareness and participation, special cleanliness drives and mosquito control activities are being strengthened.”
“To modernise the Secondary Transfer Stations (waste disposal points), environmentally friendly waste management is being carried out through landscaping, greening, and awareness-building graffiti work. Dhaka South City Corporation, with investment from a Korea-based private company, has planned to transform the Matuail landfill into an integrated circular economy-based waste management and energy production centre, aiming to convert all waste into zero waste. I hope that through these activities and coordinated management, a cleaner and greener Dhaka city can gradually be established.”
The parliamentary session began at 11 am led by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. A 40-minute slot was allocated for the prime minister’s question-and-answer session. Eight questions had been scheduled for the prime minister on Wednesday. Within the allotted time, he answered two questions and supplementary questions from MPs.
Initiatives and Plans to Make Dhaka a Clean and Green City:
Tree plantation activities have been undertaken in road medians, traffic islands, and open spaces within DSCC areas.
In various areas under DNCC, urban forestry (Miyawaki Forests), open medians, and zero-soil/green coverings are being developed.
A target has been set to plant 500,000 trees in the DNCC areas over the next five years. In addition, trees will be planted in vacant spaces beneath the metro rail line (from Mirpur-12 to Mirpur DOHS) and underneath the Elevated Expressway (from Abdullahpur to Farmgate).
In his written statement, the prime minister also said that the Department of Environment has prioritised pollution control in Dhaka to help transform the city into a clean and green city. Measures taken include:
# To control air pollution in Dhaka, the Department of Environment and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) are jointly working to introduce a modern bus service and launch 250 electric buses.
# With support from the World Bank, the major sources of Dhaka’s air pollution have been identified. Based on this, the Department of Environment is working to control air pollution. Regular mobile courts are being conducted against smoke-emitting vehicles, construction activities, and pollution caused by construction materials.
# Initiatives have been taken to shut down brick kilns illegally polluting around Dhaka. Regular mobile courts and enforcement drives are being carried out for this purpose.
# To reduce air pollution in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area, Savar Upazila has been declared a degraded airshed area. In that zone, brick kiln operations, open waste burning, and similar activities have been banned.
# To prevent pollution of rivers, canals, and water bodies in and around Dhaka, industries discharging liquid waste have been required to install ETPs (Effluent Treatment Plants). So far, 248 establishments have installed ETPs. Installation of cameras for real-time monitoring of these treatment plants is ongoing. The Department of Environment has already identified the sources and nature of pollution in the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Balu, and Turag rivers, as well as in 19 major canals flowing through Dhaka.
# To make a green Dhaka, reduce pollution, and improve urban beauty, the Forest Department has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Dhaka North/South City Corporations, the Water Development Board, and the Roads and Highways Department. Through these partnerships, tree planting and zero-soil programmes have been implemented in road medians, U-loops, ponding areas, and canal banks. Under this programme, 41,565 saplings of fruit-bearing, forest, medicinal, and decorative species have been planted.
# To reduce pollution in Dhaka, soil surfaces have been covered with various species of vines, shrubs, and grass. As part of the national target of planting 250 million trees over the next five years, initiatives are being taken to plant trees in vacant afforestation-suitable areas of Dhaka to transform it into a clean and green city.