Dust pollution

Number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases has increased in the capital due to growing dust pollution

It is very much worrying to note that road dust has become the biggest source of pollution in the capital city, inhabited by about 15 million people. According to a report of this newspaper on Sunday, green activists have asked the authorities concerned to take monitoring initiatives to check dust pollution in Dhaka city as its air quality is set to fall with the onset of dry season. road dust has become the biggest source of pollution in the capital, especially during the dry season for various reasons, including unplanned construction works, posing a severe health threat to the city dwellers.

 Over the past few years, Dhaka city has expanded both horizontally and vertically with its burgeoning population but civic amenities have not increased proportionately. Exposure to road dust has become one of the menaces that the city-dwellers are confronted with recently. Construction work-related activities like concrete crushing, cement batching and road stone plants are destroying the environment and clean air, depriving the city-dwellers of breathing in fresh air. A Department of Environment (DoE)  study shows the dust pollution in Dhaka city turns acute during the dry season, which is over three times higher than the permissible level. As quality is not ensured in road repair, city roads got damaged fast and generate unusual dust making the lives of city dwellers miserable.

Construction works are going on in many places in the city under government and private initiatives.  Those are generating dust. Besides, digging and re-digging of city roads time and again without any rhyme or reason are also causing dust pollution. Thousands of people have to go out of their residences everyday for various purposes. They are bearing the brunt of dust pollution as the authorities concerned have taken no measure to check it. Number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma has increased in the capital due to growing dust pollution. Besides, many allergy-prone people are suffering from common cold and cough problems.

 After the ban on the plying of baby-taxis on the city roads smoke-related pollution has reduced considerably in the city but no measure has been taken to check dust-related pollution. What is surprising is that the Department of Environment (DoE) has not announced any guideline to check dust pollution.  This apathy and lackadaisical attitude of such an important organization is very unfortunate. Lack of coordination among the urban agencies like Rajuk, city corporations and Dhaka Wasa in implementing development projects is responsible for dust pollution. It is the responsibility of the city corporations and other relevant bodies to check dust pollution by sprinkling water and other means for the benefit of the taxpayers.   

Dust pollution

Number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases has increased in the capital due to growing dust pollution

It is very much worrying to note that road dust has become the biggest source of pollution in the capital city, inhabited by about 15 million people. According to a report of this newspaper on Sunday, green activists have asked the authorities concerned to take monitoring initiatives to check dust pollution in Dhaka city as its air quality is set to fall with the onset of dry season. road dust has become the biggest source of pollution in the capital, especially during the dry season for various reasons, including unplanned construction works, posing a severe health threat to the city dwellers. Over the past few years, Dhaka city has expanded both horizontally and vertically with its burgeoning population but civic amenities have not increased proportionately. Exposure to road dust has become one of the menaces that the city-dwellers are confronted with recently. Construction work-related activities like concrete crushing, cement batching and road stone plants are destroying the environment and clean air, depriving the city-dwellers of breathing in fresh air. A Department of Environment (DoE) study shows the dust pollution in Dhaka city turns acute during the dry season, which is over three times higher than the permissible level. As quality is not ensured in road repair, city roads got damaged fast and generate unusual dust making the lives of city dwellers miserable. Construction works are going on in many places in the city under government and private initiatives. Those are generating dust. Besides, digging and re-digging of city roads time and again without any rhyme or reason are also causing dust pollution. Thousands of people have to go out of their residences everyday for various purposes. They are bearing the brunt of dust pollution as the authorities concerned have taken no measure to check it. Number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma has increased in the capital due to growing dust pollution. Besides, many allergy-prone people are suffering from common cold and cough problems. After the ban on the plying of baby-taxis on the city roads smoke-related pollution has reduced considerably in the city but no measure has been taken to check dust-related pollution. What is surprising is that the Department of Environment (DoE) has not announced any guideline to check dust pollution. This apathy and lackadaisical attitude of such an important organization is very unfortunate. Lack of coordination among the urban agencies like Rajuk, city corporations and Dhaka Wasa in implementing development projects is responsible for dust pollution. It is the responsibility of the city corporations and other relevant bodies to check dust pollution by sprinkling water and other means for the benefit of the taxpayers.