Rabiul Alam, Dhaka
With the arrival of winter, Dhaka often tops the list of the world’s most polluted cities. One of the main reasons behind this is dust. Various steps have been taken by the city corporation, the Department of Environment, and related ministries to prevent this pollution.
However, those steps are failing to curb pollution. As a result, Dhaka often ranks at the top of the list of polluted cities.
Environmentalists say that due to dust pollution, city dwellers are suffering not only from diseases but also from troubles with clothes, furniture, homes, and food.
Concerned individuals say there is a lack of coordination among the city corporation, the Department of Environment, and the government ministries in preventing urban air pollution. Particularly, although there are specific policies regarding construction work and road digging, which are the main sources of dust pollution, public and private institutions are not following them.
Moreover, there is no coordination between the city corporation and the Department of Environment to control pollution. As a result, dust pollution is taking a serious turn in the city.
The highest source is construction work, the second reason is factories, and the third highest is unfit vehicles. Currently, there is concern that due to large mega projects and road digging not following construction regulations, dust is increasing. If the city corporation, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Department of Environment had kept watch, pollution from these sources wouldn’t happen.
According to the latest data from Switzerland-based organization IQAir’s Air Quality Index (AQI), in the current January, air quality in the capital reached hazardous levels for a total of nine days, which is the highest in the past seven years. Among them, from January 6, Dhaka topped the list for three consecutive mornings due to air pollution.
According to research by CAPS, a pollution research organization, uncoordinated road digging and construction work are responsible for 30 percent of Dhaka’s air pollution. Alongside industrialization and surrounding brick kilns, construction sites are the main sources of dust pollution.
Furthermore, during the transportation of construction materials, due to the lack of cover on large cargo trucks, dust spreads.
To control dust, Dhaka North City Corporation is spraying water through modern spray cannons. Extra emphasis is given to spraying more water on roads under construction. Contractors are instructed to cover the soil during construction. If construction materials are left scattered and pollute the environment, DNCC magistrates are taking legal actions. Perhaps it is less than required.
CAPS Chairman and Professor of Environmental Science at Stamford University, Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said, there are several reasons for air pollution in Dhaka city. The first and highest source is construction work, the second is factories, and the third highest is unfit vehicles. Currently, there is concern that due to large mega projects and road digging not following construction regulations, dust is increasing. If the city corporation, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Department of Environment had kept watch, pollution from these sources wouldn’t happen.
Throughout the year in the capital, construction of buildings and road repairs by WASA, the city corporation, and various government ministries continue. Alongside, several mega projects and various development works of the government are ongoing in recent years. According to officials, due to these construction works, dust pollution is the highest.
However, despite specific directives from the Department of Environment to prevent air pollution during any type of construction, these rules are often not followed in practice.
According to the Department of Environment’s rules, during road and building construction or repair, proper covers must be used at the site to prevent dust from mixing with the air. Construction materials (soil, sand, rods, cement, etc.) should be properly covered both inside and outside, and water should be sprayed at least twice daily. But due to not following these guidelines in reality, dust levels are increasing in the capital.
Among the nine directives issued by the High Court in January 2020 to control air pollution were covering construction materials, spraying water, and adhering to tender conditions for digging. But these are not followed. No effective steps are seen to enforce them either.
Although Dhaka North City Corporation launched a special crash program for water spraying to prevent pollution, it is not proving effective. Residents of North City say that water is not sprayed in all areas. The amount of water sprayed is very little compared to what’s needed.
The same situation exists in the Dhaka South City Corporation area. Residents of this area say that from November to March, there is the most dust. But no significant actions by the city corporation or the Department of Environment are visible to control this pollution. During winter, they consider dust the most troubling issue.
Rakib, a resident of Chand Uddyan in Mohammadpur, said, “I run a business in Rayerbazar. I travel daily via the embankment road. There’s so much dust in this area, I often suffer from colds and coughs. This road has been under repair for the past one and a half years. During monsoon, things are a bit better, but in both winter and summer, I have to suffer greatly.”
CAPS research shows that in the areas where the city corporation sprays water, pollution returns to its previous state within two hours. In this regard, CAPS Chairman Professor Kamruzzaman emphasizes coordination among the city corporation, the Department of Environment, and the Ministry of Local Government to prevent dust pollution.
Jahangirnagar University teacher and urban planner Adil Mohammad Khan said, “Air pollution is a by-product of our unplanned development. All kinds of developmental activities in urban planning are affecting air pollution. For the infrastructure construction going on by both public and private sectors, no standard is being followed anywhere. Due to the industrialization happening in and around Dhaka, air pollution is increasing. But on the contrary, to reduce air pollution, if the city had trees and greenery as a balancing factor, it would help. But due to excessive urbanization, we have destroyed that.”
Regarding this, Dhaka North City Corporation’s Public Relations Officer Mokbul Hasan said, “To control dust, Dhaka North City is spraying water through modern spray cannons. Special emphasis is given to spraying more water on roads under construction. Contractors are being instructed to keep the soil covered while working. If construction materials are left scattered and pollute the environment, DNCC magistrates are taking legal actions. Maybe it’s less than needed.”