While millions of people around the world in cities like Dhaka and Delhi, have been battling life threatening air pollution to survive, people in the city of Rajshahi breathe clean air and revel in their pollution free, green environment.
People of the city regularly walk, jog, and run along the Padma River to keep fit, and use clean roads without needing any masks. Pedestrians use grassy footpaths lined with flowers and residents soak up the serene beauty of the greenery around them.
However, this pronounced change did not come about overnight. A number of initiatives taken by the city corporation, have contributed to reducing the harmful particulate matter in the air and making the city more green and liveable.
Photo shows a clean Rajshahi city | Dhaka Tribune
The authorities have restricted diesel and petrol run vehicles on the roads which contribute to air pollution. Instead, a large number of battery and gas run vehicles now operate in the city.
Brick kilns were set up far from the city and the existing brick kilns have been upgraded with better chimneys. Toxic black smoke does not pollute the city any more.
A large number of trees have been planted over the last few years in different parts of the city, and flowers have also been planted on road dividers and road sides. Now, the city is full of greenery, and radiates a feeling of tranquillity.
Photo shows a clean Rajshahi city | Dhaka Tribune
An army of city corporation sweepers work day and night to keep the city roads free of dust and dirt. Garbage collected daily and dumped only in designated places. A well planned park was established on the abandoned bank of the Padma river and tiles were used on the pathways. Now there is much less dust in the air and people who come to the area for recreation can enjoy themselves.
The efforts of the authorities have been lauded by many. The city was recognized as the most successful city in the world in reducing harmful particles PM10 and PM2.5 in the air in 2014-16, according to World Health Organization (WHO) report. The city was also awarded the National Environmental Award in 2013 and bagged several awards for tree planting.
Titumir of Mohisbathan in the city, said: "I used to live in Bhatopara in Godagari upazila. However,the air quality of that area was not very good since a large number of brick kilns were there. The air quality in the city is much better, which is why I moved here."
Photo shows a clean Rajshahi city | Dhaka TribuneDeputy Director of the Rajshahi Department of Environment (DoE), Mamunur Rashid, said that in 2014-2016, the city topped the list of cities that reduced harmful particles successfully in the air. However, in 2019, the air quality has slightly gone down, but is still in reasonably good condition. He explained that the situation has not deteriorated to the extent of Dhaka and Delhi, adding: "We have set up machines in the Shal Bagan area to gauge air pollution. If we find anything wrong, we take action immediately to keep the air pollution free.”
He also added that the brick kilns were set up far from the city and heavy industries are comparatively low in number in Rajshahi.
Rajshahi City Corporation Chief Engineer Ashraful Haque said: "We received the National Environment Award from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2013. We were also awarded for tree planting for three consecutive years as we worked hard over the last 25 years to make the city green. Moreover, we planted flowers along city streets. Tiles were installed on the footpaths to reduce dust. We are trying to make the city livable by keeping the city's environment perfect."
He further said the city corporation has ‘zero soil’ plan for the city, with planting a lot of grass to help cut down dust.
Rajshahi City Corporation Waste Management Officer (Monitoring) Sazzad Khan said: "There are around 1400 workers in the 30 wards of the city. They work from 9pm to 2am every day. Workers first collect rubbish from different areas and gather it one designated place. Next, they take it to different secondary points. Finally, the rubbish is dumped in the Teker City area on large trucks."
Contacted, Professor Dr Golam Sabbir Sattar, director of the Institute of Environmental Science (IES) of Rajshahi University, said: "Rajshahi lacks large industries and the large number of trees that have been planted have helped to improve the air quality and environment. But, it will be difficult to maintain the current situation as, in the near future, dependency on agricultural lands will lessen and large industries and brick kilns will be set up here. One thing we should keep in mind is that everything will have to be run by gas. Diesel run vehicles have to be restricted completely.
"The city corporation is planning a zero soil program. But, I do not support it fully as we need some space for rain water to go down smoothly,” he concluded.
