Environmental activists want focus on �green� development

7th 5-Year Plan

The 7th Five-Year Plan should concentrate on environment-friendly infrastructure development, climate change-resilient resource mobilisation and building skilled human resources, so as to reach the mark of middle-income country, suggest environmental activists.
During a view exchange meeting titled “The 7th Five-Year Plan: Our Expectations”, organised by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) at its headquarters at Kalabagan yesterday, experts urged the government to make provisions for all types of industries to adhere to the green norms under the next five-year plan.
Presenting the key note paper,  Lelin Chowdhury, joint secretary general of POBA said the business community has already recommended giving priority to  develop infrastructure in the 7th Five-Year Plan.
The business community has asked for lowering interest rates, diversification of exports, removing energy shortage and developing skilled manpower in their recommendation, Dr Chowdhury pointed out.
“In our recommendation, we have urged the government to ensure that any type of industrial development does not harm the environment.  Also an ‘environment tax’ should be imposed on the industries which do not abide by the green norms,” he said.
Under the five-year plan, installation of effluent treatment plants (ETP) on their premises by all big industries should be made mandatory, Dr Chowdhury said.
He also suggested strengthening of the environment court, so that any person or organisation suffering due to environmental degradation because of human activities could easily get justice.
“Tackling all kinds of pollutions – air, water, soil and noise – should be done by the authorities concerned as per the modern existing practices across the globe,” he said.
“We are not against industrial development because achieving middle-income status will not possible without it.
But without protecting environment, no development can sustain for long time.”
“We have had six five-year development plans so far, but none of them exclusively focused on sustainable, environment-friendly infrastructural development,” he added.
Dr Rashid E Mahbub, former president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), said a large number of people are facing the adverse effects of climate change in the coastal region.
“The five-year plans should have incorporated the mechanism to tackle the climate change,” he said.

Environmental activists want focus on �green� development

7th 5-Year Plan

The 7th Five-Year Plan should concentrate on environment-friendly infrastructure development, climate change-resilient resource mobilisation and building skilled human resources, so as to reach the mark of middle-income country, suggest environmental activists. During a view exchange meeting titled The 7th Five-Year Plan: Our Expectations, organised by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) at its headquarters at Kalabagan yesterday, experts urged the government to make provisions for all types of industries to adhere to the green norms under the next five-year plan. Presenting the key note paper, Lelin Chowdhury, joint secretary general of POBA said the business community has already recommended giving priority to develop infrastructure in the 7th Five-Year Plan. The business community has asked for lowering interest rates, diversification of exports, removing energy shortage and developing skilled manpower in their recommendation, Dr Chowdhury pointed out. In our recommendation, we have urged the government to ensure that any type of industrial development does not harm the environment. Also an environment tax should be imposed on the industries which do not abide by the green norms, he said. Under the five-year plan, installation of effluent treatment plants (ETP) on their premises by all big industries should be made mandatory, Dr Chowdhury said. He also suggested strengthening of the environment court, so that any person or organisation suffering due to environmental degradation because of human activities could easily get justice. Tackling all kinds of pollutions air, water, soil and noise should be done by the authorities concerned as per the modern existing practices across the globe, he said. We are not against industrial development because achieving middle-income status will not possible without it. But without protecting environment, no development can sustain for long time. We have had six five-year development plans so far, but none of them exclusively focused on sustainable, environment-friendly infrastructural development, he added. Dr Rashid E Mahbub, former president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), said a large number of people are facing the adverse effects of climate change in the coastal region. The five-year plans should have incorporated the mechanism to tackle the climate change, he said.