Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba), an organisation of green activists, has raised questions over the necessity of enacting a new law to curb air pollution in the country.
At a roundtable discussion at Poba auditorium in Dhaka, its General Secretary Abdus Sobhan said: “We don’t need any new law as the existing two laws are enough... If those can be implemented properly, air pollution can be controlled.”
The environmentalists also raised question over the outcome of government projects initiated to control air pollution.
“How have the Department of Environment, city corporations and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority been dealing with clean air and sustainable development projects that air pollution is not decreasing, but increasing day by day?” asked Sobhan.
In past nine years till September 2018, the Department of Environment (DoE) has spent Tk 191 crore, he mentioned, adding: “If the authorities have been implementing those projects properly, then why is air pollution increasing?”
Poba Joint General Secretary Lelin Chowdhury alleged that the projects had been launched just to put the money into their (DoE’s) own pockets.
In a statement, the organisation also sought transparency in implementing different projects and agreements signed in this regard to achieve the targets.
Poba Chairman Abu Naser chaired the roundtable, which was attended by other environmentalists and activists.