LAKHS of city dwellers, including many with lung and allergy problems, have to move in thick dust and polluted air as they go about their daily business, because of massive construction work by private companies, government agencies, two City Corporations and WASA. City and Project officials claim they regularly spray water to stop dust from flying, but evidence suggests otherwise, as per a report of a local daily.
In many parts of the city, people moving with their faces and noses covered with scarves or bare hands is a common sight as hovering dust clouds vision. Mirpur, Gulshan, Mouchak, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Jatrabari, Beribandh, Rampura, Moddho Badda and Zahir Raihan Road near Dhaka Medical College Hospital are some of the areas where the menace is at its highest.
Dust particles small enough to be inhaled not only cause irritation of the eyes, coughing and sneezing, but also asthma and bronchitis. Research has shown that ten percent of children exposed to dust develop asthma while 7-8 percent of adults suffer from acute bronchitis. Dust mixed with pollutants is responsible for lung cancer.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has recently dismantled some ramps of Mayor Hanif Flyover near Bakshibazar intersection. Thousands of people, including patients, cross this road each day through the concrete dust. In Gulshan and Banani, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is carrying out extensive road and divider repairing work. In Mirpur, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTC) and Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) are working for Metro Rail and a water supply project respectively.
Dhaka’s dust problem, which leads to air pollution, is not new. It was the main reason why CNGs were introduced in 2003 so as to reduce the high levels of air pollution caused by the pollution emmiting two wheelers which existed at that time. But unfortunately not much has been done since then to eliminate other unfit vehicles from the roads of Dhaka City.
Even though the High Court asked the government to explain what steps had been taken to remove dust in the four City Corporations including that of Dhaka. However simple steps, if taken, would have the potential to remove dust completely from our roads. Spraying water 3-4 times a day, planting adequate number of trees, ensuring the presence of water bodies besides major roads, spraying of water continuously around major construction sites — all of these are enough to remove dust from these locations.
But to do all of these needs a strong political will and sense of civic duty. The responsibility of ensuring dust free roads lies with the City Corporations while reducing road pollution by banning unfit cars and other vehicles lies with BRTA. If both co-ordinate their efforts it would be very easy to eliminate the high levels of dust that we are exposed to every winter. But the will to do so must be there.
In many parts of the city, people moving with their faces and noses covered with scarves or bare hands is a common sight as hovering dust clouds vision. Mirpur, Gulshan, Mouchak, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Jatrabari, Beribandh, Rampura, Moddho Badda and Zahir Raihan Road near Dhaka Medical College Hospital are some of the areas where the menace is at its highest.
Dust particles small enough to be inhaled not only cause irritation of the eyes, coughing and sneezing, but also asthma and bronchitis. Research has shown that ten percent of children exposed to dust develop asthma while 7-8 percent of adults suffer from acute bronchitis. Dust mixed with pollutants is responsible for lung cancer.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has recently dismantled some ramps of Mayor Hanif Flyover near Bakshibazar intersection. Thousands of people, including patients, cross this road each day through the concrete dust. In Gulshan and Banani, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is carrying out extensive road and divider repairing work. In Mirpur, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTC) and Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) are working for Metro Rail and a water supply project respectively.
Dhaka’s dust problem, which leads to air pollution, is not new. It was the main reason why CNGs were introduced in 2003 so as to reduce the high levels of air pollution caused by the pollution emmiting two wheelers which existed at that time. But unfortunately not much has been done since then to eliminate other unfit vehicles from the roads of Dhaka City.
Even though the High Court asked the government to explain what steps had been taken to remove dust in the four City Corporations including that of Dhaka. However simple steps, if taken, would have the potential to remove dust completely from our roads. Spraying water 3-4 times a day, planting adequate number of trees, ensuring the presence of water bodies besides major roads, spraying of water continuously around major construction sites — all of these are enough to remove dust from these locations.
But to do all of these needs a strong political will and sense of civic duty. The responsibility of ensuring dust free roads lies with the City Corporations while reducing road pollution by banning unfit cars and other vehicles lies with BRTA. If both co-ordinate their efforts it would be very easy to eliminate the high levels of dust that we are exposed to every winter. But the will to do so must be there.
