Diesel-run vehicles cause air pollution in city
Such vehicles emit various types of pollutants, including Particulate Matter (PM), which cause damage to lung function and chronic respiratory illness, they said and called for immediate steps to check emission of air pollutants from motor vehicles.
The workshop on a follow-on air quality management project was organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) at the IDB Bhaban in the city, with its Director General Dr Khandaker Rashedul Haque in the chair.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The project is the extension of Air Quality Management Project (AQMP), which started in 2000 with financial assistance of the World Bank to reduce air pollution in the country.
The objectives of the follow-on project are to develop the infrastructure and update institutional and regulatory framework for air quality management system and to reduce emissions of air pollutants from major sources such as industry, transport and household fuel.
The Air Quality Management Project (AQMP), which started in 2000, helped phase out two-stroke 'autorickshaws' from the city, leading to about 30 per cent reduction in emission of Particulate Matter a day, said the speakers.
Under the project, a basic air quality monitoring system has been put in place and basic institutional capacity for air quality monitoring and management has been built, the added.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Project Director Dr Mohammad Nasiruddin suggested regular servicing of vehicles, which will help reduce emission of pollutants.
He also called for changes in the vehicle import policy, saying that some unscrupulous businessmen import very old engines, which are found to be gross polluters.
Secretary to the environment and forest ministry Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury was present as the chief guest while Dr Jeffrey Racki and Dr Sameer Akbar of World Bank also spoke.
A study jointly conducted by the World Bank, Dhaka office, and the AQMP in November last year on the perception of air pollution of different stakeholders was presented at the workshop.
The study recommended disseminating information on air quality, involving the people in the campaign against polluting vehicles and conveying air quality related messages through the mass media.