DoE failed to protect Savar wetlands

The High Court yesterday lambasted the Department of Environment (DoE) for failing to protect waterbodies -- Baghil Beel, Dholai Beel and Pakuria Beel, and Kornapara Khal -- in Savar from pollution and encroachment.

Delivering a verdict on a writ petition, the court said the DoE was negligent in properly monitoring and enforcing environment protection laws to save and preserve ecology and the livelihood of people in areas surrounding the waterbodies from pollution caused by the dumping of hazardous and toxic industrial waste.

The full text of the verdict, however, has not been released yet.

The action taken by the DoE against the industrial companies, which are dumping hazardous waste into the waterbodies, is inadequate, the HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam observed. 

The bench said the explanation by the DoE, saying it cannot take proper steps due to shortage of manpower and Covid-19 pandemic, is not acceptable. 

The bench also directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to protect and save the wetlands and waterbodies from further pollution and damage.

It further asked the DoE to submit a report before it on the position of the waterbodies, the quality of the water, and the steps taken against the polluters every six months.

The HC came up with the directives following a writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) in 2011, seeking necessary orders on the government to protect the waterbodies in Savar.

The petitioner's lawyer Syeda Rezwana Hasan told The Daily Star that around 30 industrial companies, most of which have no environmental clearance certificates, have been polluting the waterbodies.

"Therefore, the local environment and ecological system, along with the locals' lives, are being severely affected."

Sayeed Ahmed Kabir also appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Wayes Al Haroni and lawyer Muntasir Uddin Ahmed represented the state and the DoE respectively.