The Department of Environment (DoE) has been taking stern action against errant enterprises responsible for causing air pollution in the port city.
On December 20, the DoE fined a steel manufacturer and a cement manufacturing company for polluting the air.
DoE Director (Chittagong Metro) Mohammad Nurullah Noori slapped the fine following a hearing at his office on Sunday.
Of them, Modern Steel Mills Ltd of Nasirabad Industrial Area was fined Tk9 lakh while NGS Cement Industries Ltd of North Patenga area was fined Tk4 lakh.
Also read- Dhaka’s air quality hazardous
The Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) of the two businesses were tested at the DoE laboratory on November 22 and November 24 of this year.
The lab tests revealed that the SPMs were far beyond the parameter set by Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 (Amended 2005).
The errant businesses were asked to modernize their respective Air Treatment Plant (ATP).
On November 30, a steel manufacturing company identified as Saleh Steel Ltd of Nasirabad Industrial Area was fined Tk 10 lakh for polluting air.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, DoE Deputy Director Mia Mahmudul Hoque said that the Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) were tested at the DoE laboratory on November 11 of this year.
“The lab tests revealed that the SPMs of the steel manufacturer were far beyond the parameter set by Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 (Amended 2005),” said the DoE official.
Mentionable, the DoE fined the same steel manufacturing company fined with Tk 3.50 lakh for air pollution on November 12, 2019.
According to the public health experts, toxic air and dust pollution can cause diseases like asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, nasal allergy and rhinitis.
Doctors say the high level of air pollution increases the number of patients with coughing and breathing problems in winter.