On the special initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Environment conducted a special anti-pollution drive across the country from January 2 to April 10.
In this drive, 778 mobile courts were conducted against vehicles, illegal brick kilns, steel mills, noise pollution, hazardous waste, lead factories, filling up of water bodies, burning of tires and open construction materials.
This information was shared in a press release by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Friday.
The release said that a total of 24.095 crore taka in fines was collected 1,663 cases filed in this drive. At the same time, the chimneys of 438 illegal brick kilns were demolished and the operations were stopped. In addition, strict instructions have been given to close 210 brick kilns. Raw bricks were destroyed in 124 kilns and the electricity connection of 7 brick kilns was disconnected. In addition, one person was sentenced to one month in prison. 8 trucks of lead smelting equipment were seized from 7 companies and factories were closed.
On the other hand, 6 mobile courts were conducted on April 10 in Gulshan, Matuail, Aminbazar, Mohammadpur and Narayanganj areas of Dhaka metropolis against air pollution with construction materials. A fine of Tk 259,000 was collected in 5 cases in this drive.
On the same day, a drive was conducted against an illegal lead battery smelting factory in Aminbazar. The factory was evicted and the equipment was seized. In Gazipur, one person was warned for filling up a water reservoir and ordered to restore the pond to its previous condition within 5 days.
In addition, a fine of Tk 190,000 was collected in 8 cases in a drive against illegal brick kilns in Manikganj and Dinajpur. The chimney and raw bricks of a brick kiln were demolished in the drive and the electricity connection of 6 brick kilns was disconnected.
The Department of Environment also said in a release that such drives will continue to control pollution.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
