No room for negligence in tackling alarming river pollution: PM

Warning that river pollution has reached an alarming level, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday instructed the authorities to take strict and coordinated measures to protect the Buriganga and other rivers around the capital.

"River pollution has now reached an unbearable stage. If we fail to take effective measures now, we will have to answer to future generations," he said while addressing a meeting on the "Improvement of Water and Environment of the Buriganga River" at the Cabinet Division conference room in  Secretariat.

Tarique Rahman also asked the officials concerned to formulate and implement a comprehensive action plan to restore the rivers surrounding Dhaka, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.

“There is no room for negligence in taking strict and coordinated steps to prevent pollution. Alongside preparing the action plan, its effective implementation must also be ensured,” Shadhin quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

The meeting reviewed the environmental condition of the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya and other rivers surrounding Dhaka and discussed the major sources of pollution, existing challenges and long-term solutions.

Untreated industrial effluents, inadequate sewerage and drainage systems, declining canal navigability and poor solid waste management were identified at the meeting as the main causes of pollution in the rivers surrounding the capital.

The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure the effective operation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) in industrial units, improve canal and drainage systems, conduct regular drives against polluters, strictly enforce environmental laws and strengthen coordination among the relevant government agencies.

He also stressed the need to raise public awareness and involve environmental organisations, voluntary groups, educational institutions and local communities in efforts to protect the rivers.

The meeting decided to form an inter-agency coordination committee under the Prime Minister's Office to formulate and oversee the implementation of the integrated action plan.

The committee will coordinate the activities of the relevant ministries, divisions and agencies and submit periodic progress reports to the Prime Minister's Office.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir, Road Transport, Bridges and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, Commander of the Dhaka Naval Area Rear Admiral Abdullah-Al-Maqsus, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A.B.M. Abdus Sattar and senior officials of the relevant ministries and agencies attended the meeting.