Air pollution is the second-largest cause of death and disability in Bangladesh. And it is responsible for around 20 per cent of the total premature deaths in the country, says a World Bank report. The global lender has also cited capital Dhaka as one of the most polluted cities in the country. However, cost-effective solutions to achieve clean air exist. China has already managed to control air pollution while India has recently launched an anti-pollution action plan. In case of Bangladesh, unfortunately, we see little has been done in terms of curbing air pollution that is not just a threat to public health but also a cause for economic loss.
As winter approaches, the air quality of Dhaka city has been deteriorating due to dry weather and emissions from various sources. Dust emissions from construction activities, a key contributor to air pollution, have begun. The city is undergoing a massive transformation which requires the construction of infrastructure. Numerous private buildings as well as public projects such as the Mass Rapid Transit, roads and other utility infrastructures and construction sites have emerged as a major contributor to dust emission in the city. Demolition and construction activities that involve hammering, crushing, cutting, trimming, drilling, grinding, mixing, excavating, dumping and transporting are going on throughout the day. This leads to dust emissions, which, if not controlled, get dispersed in the atmosphere and get deposited on surrounding surfaces. As most of these construction sites are close to residential areas, they pose a threat to the health of children, the elderly and people with lung diseases.
Dust is an unwelcome harbinger of winter for the residents of Dhaka.
But our response to this menace is not at all an effective one. We need to contain the dust through concerted efforts. The High Court on January 13, 2020, directed the Dhaka's city mayors to ensure that spraying of water on the city's roads takes place twice every day during the winter months. However, city corporation authorities are reluctant to do this routinely even on some major roads. Besides, the authorities do not seem to take any action when construction materials are kept on the roads or pavements.
It is not a tough task for the city authorities to reduce dust in Dhaka city. They can do it by sweeping roads and pavements regularly. Spraying water on roads and planting trees can also help. They also have to ensure that no one carries construction materials openly or keep them on the roads and pavements. If the dust from construction work could be managed, it would greatly help reduce air pollution in Dhaka city. We should think of transforming the building industry from its current state into one that uses modern construction technologies and practices that place controlling air pollution at the centre of planning and execution. Using drone technology to find out dust emission hotspots can help the city authorities in this case. Using this technology they can easily find the dust emitters. Standard operation procedures for builders can help reduce emissions from construction activities. Dust control is manageable in Dhaka city. And it can rid Dhaka of air pollution to some extent.
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