HC orders implementation of its 9-point directive to reduce air pollution

Published : Tuesday, 24 November, 2020 at 10:55 PM Count : 297

HC orders implementation of its 9-point directive to reduce air pollution

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to take steps within 30 days to implement its nine-point directive to bring down air pollution level in Dhaka and its adjacent areas.

The virtual bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order after hearing an appeal filed by Advocate Manzil Murshid.

The court observed that citizen’s fundamental right to life might be impeded if the present air pollution level of Dhaka city is not brought under control, Manzil Murshid said.

The HC issued the nine-point directive on January 13 after hearing a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

The nine-point directive includes ensuring the use of covers on trucks or other vehicles that transport sand or soil in capital Dhaka.

At places where construction work is going on, contractors should cover the work to prevent the spread of dust, it said.

As per its previous order, the HC ordered the authorities concerned to sprinkle water on streets that were left out.

The government has been instructed to ensure complete road construction or excavation work or carpeting complying with laws and rules.

The court also ordered the authorities to seize the vehicles emitting black smoke.

It asked the government to take steps to fix the economic life of different cars or vehicles as per section 36 of the Road Transport Act 2018 and restrict plying of those vehicles which have no economic life to run on roads in the capital.

The DoE was asked to shut down in next two months the rest of the illegal brick fields which are operating without license.

Appropriate steps should be taken to stop burning of tyres and recycling of vehicles’ batteries without approval from the DoE, the court said.

The HC asked the authorities concerned of the government to take steps to ensure that all the market owners or shopkeepers keep their garbage in bags and the city corporations to remove those after the shops or markets are closed.

The HRPB filed a writ petition attaching a report published in different newspapers on January 21 last year on air pollution in Dhaka.

UNB/GY