Act now against urban degeneration

A World Bank report titled: 'Enhancing Opportunities for Clean and Resilient Growth in Urban Bangladesh: Country Environmental Analysis 2018’, paints a bleak picture of unplanned urbanization in Bangladesh, forecasting a grim future where pollution will result in massive losses. The report states that Bangladesh loses $ 6.5 billion, which is 3.4 per cent of GDP every year due to pollution and environmental degradation in urban areas.

The enormity of the loss reflected in monetary terms may be startling, though the visible destruction of greenery around the major cities is something which we have been witnessing for the last two decades. To take Dhaka as an example, the once leafy, placid city of the decades after liberation, is now a massive cacophonous urban juggernaut, relentlessly breeding a variety of ailments due to congestion, ubiquitous jams and terrible loss of greenery.

The World Bank report also underlines Dhaka as one of the most polluted cities in the world, cautioning that every year, around 80,000 people die of pollution related illnesses in cities.  Against the backdrop of such damning revelations, the draft Environmental Policy, 2018 is being placed before the cabinet. Reportedly, the policy will feature a law to monitor the Effluent Treatment Plants, ETPs, around the factories to ensure water bodies are not used to dump industrial waste.

While this is much needed, the law can only be enforced when industrial police units are formed with adequate manpower and equipment. The World Bank report also highlights the adverse impact of filling up water bodies within cities, with emphasis on Dhaka, where 75 per cent water bodies have been filled up for construction. The suggestion made is to restore water bodies though it will not be practical to expect ponds in every area anymore. What can be done is to pass a law which will make open water reservoirs plus greenery mandatory for all apartment blocks.

The greenery around the capital has declined sharply in the past twenty years, giving the city a barren concrete look. Aesthetically, the city has lost its charm, but more importantly, much needed environmental balance has been severely undermined.  This results in more pollution, leading to basic health problems like stress, migraine, respiratory complications which pave the way for complicated long term diseases to wreak havoc. As part of a turn Dhaka green drive, each ward can be given a target to make their areas greener, with the promise of an award and recognition from the state level. City corporations can also add in with area wise tree plantation, interspersed with artificial water bodies.

 

Act now against urban degeneration

A World Bank report titled: Enhancing Opportunities for Clean and Resilient Growth in Urban Bangladesh: Country Environmental Analysis 2018, paints a bleak picture of unplanned urbanization in Bangladesh, forecasting a grim future where pollution will result in massive losses. The report states that Bangladesh loses $ 6.5 billion, which is 3.4 per cent of GDP every year due to pollution and environmental degradation in urban areas. The enormity of the loss reflected in monetary terms may be startling, though the visible destruction of greenery around the major cities is something which we have been witnessing for the last two decades. To take Dhaka as an example, the once leafy, placid city of the decades after liberation, is now a massive cacophonous urban juggernaut, relentlessly breeding a variety of ailments due to congestion, ubiquitous jams and terrible loss of greenery. The World Bank report also underlines Dhaka as one of the most polluted cities in the world, cautioning that every year, around 80,000 people die of pollution related illnesses in cities. Against the backdrop of such damning revelations, the draft Environmental Policy, 2018 is being placed before the cabinet. Reportedly, the policy will feature a law to monitor the Effluent Treatment Plants, ETPs, around the factories to ensure water bodies are not used to dump industrial waste. While this is much needed, the law can only be enforced when industrial police units are formed with adequate manpower and equipment. The World Bank report also highlights the adverse impact of filling up water bodies within cities, with emphasis on Dhaka, where 75 per cent water bodies have been filled up for construction. The suggestion made is to restore water bodies though it will not be practical to expect ponds in every area anymore. What can be done is to pass a law which will make open water reservoirs plus greenery mandatory for all apartment blocks. The greenery around the capital has declined sharply in the past twenty years, giving the city a barren concrete look. Aesthetically, the city has lost its charm, but more importantly, much needed environmental balance has been severely undermined. This results in more pollution, leading to basic health problems like stress, migraine, respiratory complications which pave the way for complicated long term diseases to wreak havoc. As part of a turn Dhaka green drive, each ward can be given a target to make their areas greener, with the promise of an award and recognition from the state level. City corporations can also add in with area wise tree plantation, interspersed with artificial water bodies.