Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder :
Air pollution is one of the regulators for bringing Dhaka down to an uninhabitable city. However, various scientific studies in Bangladesh have already identified all the sources, causes, and impacts of air pollution. Based on characteristics of air pollutants and its sources, the control strategy would be in three stages for the permanent solution of the air pollution problem in Dhaka city. The High Court issued the nine-point directive on January 13, 2020 to curb air pollution in Dhaka city after hearing a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). On Tuesday, November 24, 2020 again The High Court ordered the authorities concerned to take steps within 30 days to implement its nine-point directive given earlier to bring down air pollution level in Dhaka and its adjacent areas. With supporting these nine-point, following suggestions could be consider by government to curb air pollution in Mega cities-
For curbing air pollution in Dhaka city a short term strategy is a practical method for dealing with, especially worthwhile now as we are in abnormal or emergency situations in terms of air pollution and thus use of all available resources is necessary. The government can take following strategies which may accomplish right at the moment.
During the dry seasons air pollution becomes severe in Dhaka city. So, for personal protection from pollution using improved quality masks could be a temporary solution for the individual. However, to reduce air pollution in Dhaka city, the coordination of governmental bodies is mandatory. In Dhaka city, the roads are digging by WASA, Cable Network Company, Gas Supply Company etc. for their renovation of services in every winter season in Dhaka. If, all bodies maintain the integration process to dig the roads for their renovation work it may reduce the emission of air pollutants from construction activities. Besides, the government must ensure that road construction or excavation work or carpeting is done in compliance with the laws and regulations and that construction materials are shielded so as to prevent dust from spreading during work.
During the dry season, especially November to March, the government can take the initiative to watering in the roads two times in a day. Dhaka WASA, City Corporation, Fire service and Bangladesh police department have a good number of water sprinkling vehicles. So, the government can use it during winter seasons to wash the roads to reduce the dust particles in Dhaka city temporarily. The government can also issue a request to the city corporation to request the authorities of each building to spray water on the street in front of their building every two to three hours on their own initiative. And in this work they can use the water created from AC. More than 3 lakh ACs are used in Dhaka city. Because of condensation an AC with a capacity of 2 tons produces at least 2 liters of water every two to three hours as a by-product.
We must ensure that trucks transporting sand, soil or building materials in the capital city are shielded. Fitnesslessvehicles is a significant contributor of total air pollution in Dhaka city. Hence, strict control of expired and less fitness vehicles and seize the vehicles emitting black smoke could be a useful reduction strategy. However, fixing the economic life of different cars or vehicles as per section 36 of the Road Transport Act 2018 and restrict the plying of those vehicles which have no economic life to run on roads in the capital might down pollution level. Introducing the unparalleled driving or alternative day movement according to even and odd number plates of the vehicle on different days of the week.
Government should take steps to shut down all illegal kilns operating without any license. Additionally, enormous tire-burning and Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB) factories in Dhaka city pose Dhaka to be worst. So, that should also stop to come down the pollution level. Proper waste management is must to control air pollution from municipal waste. Waste burning at the city corporation dumping station as well as on the street sides must be avoided. Dhaka North and South both city corporations have to stop open waste burring method to reduce waste volume. Eventually, improved cooking stoves and quality fuel in slum areas would contribute to better air quality in city areas.
There are some midterm strategiesthat may be taken in to account reduced air pollution problem in Dhaka city. The government can take few strategies which may accomplish within 6 months. Among this, Introduction of suction trucks and vacuum sweeping trucks instead of manual broom to clean the road and collect road dust. It may play a significant role to reduce pollution from road dust. Mandatory introduction of more separate bicycle lanes for residence of Dhaka city would be one of the major steps to reduce pollution level as the city’s first bicycle lanes has been introduced in Manik Mia Avenue by DSCC in early December, 2020.
Proper tree plantation and encouraging the rooftop gardeningin city area may help to improve the air quality. Additionally, the number of surface water bodies should be increased. A clear improvement of air quality has seen in the locations where there are more greeneries and water bodies. For example inside the Dhaka contentment, Pilkhana and Ramna area the air quality is much batter then the other built-up are like Motijheel, Uttara and Mohakhali area.
To reduce indoor air pollution adequate mechanical ventilation should be ensure inside the house to control indoor air pollution.Cleaner Brick making technologies such as the Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns (VSBK) and the Hybrid Hoffmann Kilns (HHKs) should be introduce instead of Fixed Chimney Kilns (FCKs). Number of Continuous Air Monitoring Station (CAMS) should be increased in urban as well as in semi urban areas. Data that collected by CAMS must be disseminating to public regularly through website. Besides, AQI forecasting and warning system should be introduced by Department of Environment (DoE).
The government should take separate long term plans with adding local and international organizations to a platform. However, the government won’t be able do anything alone. They need support of mass people. With proper guidance, knowledge and motivation, the public can be made a crucial part of the air quality management in Dhaka city.
Air pollution is one of the regulators for bringing Dhaka down to an uninhabitable city. However, various scientific studies in Bangladesh have already identified all the sources, causes, and impacts of air pollution. Based on characteristics of air pollutants and its sources, the control strategy would be in three stages for the permanent solution of the air pollution problem in Dhaka city. The High Court issued the nine-point directive on January 13, 2020 to curb air pollution in Dhaka city after hearing a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). On Tuesday, November 24, 2020 again The High Court ordered the authorities concerned to take steps within 30 days to implement its nine-point directive given earlier to bring down air pollution level in Dhaka and its adjacent areas. With supporting these nine-point, following suggestions could be consider by government to curb air pollution in Mega cities-
For curbing air pollution in Dhaka city a short term strategy is a practical method for dealing with, especially worthwhile now as we are in abnormal or emergency situations in terms of air pollution and thus use of all available resources is necessary. The government can take following strategies which may accomplish right at the moment.
During the dry seasons air pollution becomes severe in Dhaka city. So, for personal protection from pollution using improved quality masks could be a temporary solution for the individual. However, to reduce air pollution in Dhaka city, the coordination of governmental bodies is mandatory. In Dhaka city, the roads are digging by WASA, Cable Network Company, Gas Supply Company etc. for their renovation of services in every winter season in Dhaka. If, all bodies maintain the integration process to dig the roads for their renovation work it may reduce the emission of air pollutants from construction activities. Besides, the government must ensure that road construction or excavation work or carpeting is done in compliance with the laws and regulations and that construction materials are shielded so as to prevent dust from spreading during work.
During the dry season, especially November to March, the government can take the initiative to watering in the roads two times in a day. Dhaka WASA, City Corporation, Fire service and Bangladesh police department have a good number of water sprinkling vehicles. So, the government can use it during winter seasons to wash the roads to reduce the dust particles in Dhaka city temporarily. The government can also issue a request to the city corporation to request the authorities of each building to spray water on the street in front of their building every two to three hours on their own initiative. And in this work they can use the water created from AC. More than 3 lakh ACs are used in Dhaka city. Because of condensation an AC with a capacity of 2 tons produces at least 2 liters of water every two to three hours as a by-product.
We must ensure that trucks transporting sand, soil or building materials in the capital city are shielded. Fitnesslessvehicles is a significant contributor of total air pollution in Dhaka city. Hence, strict control of expired and less fitness vehicles and seize the vehicles emitting black smoke could be a useful reduction strategy. However, fixing the economic life of different cars or vehicles as per section 36 of the Road Transport Act 2018 and restrict the plying of those vehicles which have no economic life to run on roads in the capital might down pollution level. Introducing the unparalleled driving or alternative day movement according to even and odd number plates of the vehicle on different days of the week.
Government should take steps to shut down all illegal kilns operating without any license. Additionally, enormous tire-burning and Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB) factories in Dhaka city pose Dhaka to be worst. So, that should also stop to come down the pollution level. Proper waste management is must to control air pollution from municipal waste. Waste burning at the city corporation dumping station as well as on the street sides must be avoided. Dhaka North and South both city corporations have to stop open waste burring method to reduce waste volume. Eventually, improved cooking stoves and quality fuel in slum areas would contribute to better air quality in city areas.
There are some midterm strategiesthat may be taken in to account reduced air pollution problem in Dhaka city. The government can take few strategies which may accomplish within 6 months. Among this, Introduction of suction trucks and vacuum sweeping trucks instead of manual broom to clean the road and collect road dust. It may play a significant role to reduce pollution from road dust. Mandatory introduction of more separate bicycle lanes for residence of Dhaka city would be one of the major steps to reduce pollution level as the city’s first bicycle lanes has been introduced in Manik Mia Avenue by DSCC in early December, 2020.
Proper tree plantation and encouraging the rooftop gardeningin city area may help to improve the air quality. Additionally, the number of surface water bodies should be increased. A clear improvement of air quality has seen in the locations where there are more greeneries and water bodies. For example inside the Dhaka contentment, Pilkhana and Ramna area the air quality is much batter then the other built-up are like Motijheel, Uttara and Mohakhali area.
To reduce indoor air pollution adequate mechanical ventilation should be ensure inside the house to control indoor air pollution.Cleaner Brick making technologies such as the Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns (VSBK) and the Hybrid Hoffmann Kilns (HHKs) should be introduce instead of Fixed Chimney Kilns (FCKs). Number of Continuous Air Monitoring Station (CAMS) should be increased in urban as well as in semi urban areas. Data that collected by CAMS must be disseminating to public regularly through website. Besides, AQI forecasting and warning system should be introduced by Department of Environment (DoE).
The government should take separate long term plans with adding local and international organizations to a platform. However, the government won’t be able do anything alone. They need support of mass people. With proper guidance, knowledge and motivation, the public can be made a crucial part of the air quality management in Dhaka city.
(Dr. Kamruzzaman Majumder is Founder and Director, Center for
Atmospheric
Pollution Studies (CAPS).
E-mail: [email protected])
