Reza Mahmud :
Six sweeper trucks sit idle in the two city corporations’ parking lots though Dhaka ranks the worst city in the Air Quality Index.
City dwellers say that dust is everywhere to create acute health crisis.
Urban experts have suggested the government to take stern action against Dhaka’s two city corporations for their negligence to keeping the residence safe from the huge dust in the capital.
According to the Environment Department if the air quality score stays below 50, it means it is in good shape. If it stays 51 to 100, it means acceptable pollution and suggesting children and sick people not to stay outside long time. In case of the score when on 151 to 200, it means its bad impact will affect the common people. But when the score goes 200 to 300, it means the area is staying under health related emergency. Everyone will be affected by the air pollution in the area.
A score of 300 or more in the AQI is considered extremely unhealthy by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Environmental Scientists said Dhaka repeatedly scored among the worst cities in the world with India’s capital New Delhi and Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
“If such high score of air pollution stays for three consecutive days, and if such condition stay for three hours every day, there should announce a health emergency. Dhaka’s air pollution scores found like it frequently. Dhaka’s air quality score found above 300 on January 9, 10 and 11,” said, Professor Kamruzzaman Majumder, an environmental scientist and Joint Secretary Bangladesh Poribesh Bachao Andolon (BAPA), Dean of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Stamford University.
He said, “The city corporations have ability to keep air pollution index in acceptable standard curbing dusts from using its technology and equipment, but they neglected to do their duties properly.”
LGRD Minister Md. Tazul Islam handed over six dust sweeper trucks to Dhaka’s two city corporations which is able to clean dust and garbages from the streets of the capital. Every trucks have capability to clean 30 kilometers of the streets everyday. But both the city corporations kept the trucks idle.
Md. Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation said, “We have a plan to keep the city’s environment clean, curbing air pollution. Our works will start soon.”
Besides, ABM Aminullah Noore, Dhaka South City Corporaiton’s Chief Executive Officer said, “We are spreading water to curb air pollution regularly.”
But the city dwellers complain that all of the work of the DSCC and DNCC are as eyewash.
“They are doing nothing but eyewash,” said Ariful Islam from Jatrabari in the city.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin blamed the polluted-air flow from India.
We have nothing to do to control the pollution caused by the trans-boundary air flow. But we will soon take measures for curbing the causes of the air pollution in the capital, he added.
Six sweeper trucks sit idle in the two city corporations’ parking lots though Dhaka ranks the worst city in the Air Quality Index.
City dwellers say that dust is everywhere to create acute health crisis.
Urban experts have suggested the government to take stern action against Dhaka’s two city corporations for their negligence to keeping the residence safe from the huge dust in the capital.
According to the Environment Department if the air quality score stays below 50, it means it is in good shape. If it stays 51 to 100, it means acceptable pollution and suggesting children and sick people not to stay outside long time. In case of the score when on 151 to 200, it means its bad impact will affect the common people. But when the score goes 200 to 300, it means the area is staying under health related emergency. Everyone will be affected by the air pollution in the area.
A score of 300 or more in the AQI is considered extremely unhealthy by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Environmental Scientists said Dhaka repeatedly scored among the worst cities in the world with India’s capital New Delhi and Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
“If such high score of air pollution stays for three consecutive days, and if such condition stay for three hours every day, there should announce a health emergency. Dhaka’s air pollution scores found like it frequently. Dhaka’s air quality score found above 300 on January 9, 10 and 11,” said, Professor Kamruzzaman Majumder, an environmental scientist and Joint Secretary Bangladesh Poribesh Bachao Andolon (BAPA), Dean of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Stamford University.
He said, “The city corporations have ability to keep air pollution index in acceptable standard curbing dusts from using its technology and equipment, but they neglected to do their duties properly.”
LGRD Minister Md. Tazul Islam handed over six dust sweeper trucks to Dhaka’s two city corporations which is able to clean dust and garbages from the streets of the capital. Every trucks have capability to clean 30 kilometers of the streets everyday. But both the city corporations kept the trucks idle.
Md. Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation said, “We have a plan to keep the city’s environment clean, curbing air pollution. Our works will start soon.”
Besides, ABM Aminullah Noore, Dhaka South City Corporaiton’s Chief Executive Officer said, “We are spreading water to curb air pollution regularly.”
But the city dwellers complain that all of the work of the DSCC and DNCC are as eyewash.
“They are doing nothing but eyewash,” said Ariful Islam from Jatrabari in the city.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin blamed the polluted-air flow from India.
We have nothing to do to control the pollution caused by the trans-boundary air flow. But we will soon take measures for curbing the causes of the air pollution in the capital, he added.
