Black smoke emission from spurious fuels used in motor vehicles is posing a serious threat to public health in four upazilas of the district.
According to local sources, the open sale of the fuels including diesel, petrol and kerosene by a section of dishonest dealers and agents continues unabated despite official ban. Hundreds of dwellers mainly the passengers, automobile workers and passers-by are exposed to different ailments from inhalation of the fuels’ smoke.
Dr Shashaka Ghosh, medical officer of Madaripur Sadar Hospital, said: “About 25 per cent people have been suffering from various kinds of respiratory tract infection (RTI) due to air pollution caused by black smoke.”
“Due to inhalation of black smoke, the number of patients suffering from bronchitis, upper RTI and cardiac diseases have increased at an alarming rate. The school children, however, are the worst sufferers,” he said.
Hafizur Rahman, assistant director of the Department of Environment, said: “Emission of black smoke from vehicles directly affects both transport workers and common people. Since the underground oil tanks are not being cleaned for years, lead contamination is polluting the environment.”
“Use of spurious diesel has increased to a large extent due to high price. Black smoke of fuel-driven automobiles like buses, trucks, tempos and motorcycles are polluting the environment with carbon monoxide gas in the air,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Uddin Biswas said: “In order to check the air pollution, the government has taken a pragmatic step to discourage marketing of lead-mixed octane. Besides, ban has been imposed on the import of two stroke three-wheeler engines and lead-mixed fuel.”
“But, defying the ban, a section of unscrupulous traders is marketing spurious fuel which is causing the emission of black smoke,” the DC added.
Mizanur Rahman Hawlader, secretary of Transport Workers’ Union, said: “The old vehicles, plying on the roads and highway, should be banned immediately.”