Master plan drawn up to protect Saint Martin's Island

The interim government is working to formulate a master for Saint Martin's Island, the country's only coral-rich ecosystem, reports BSS.

"Work is also underway to finalise a master plan for the island, along with waste management measures and alternative livelihood programmes for local residents," Dipankar Bar, public relations officer of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, said.

He said measures have been taken to regulate uncontrolled tourism in the Saint Martin's Island to revive its ecosystem.

Over the past year, the ministry has implemented a series of groundbreaking initiatives to protect the environment, conserve forests and biodiversity, and address the climate change impacts, said a ministry press release issued on Friday.

To curb pollution, the use of banned polythene in shopping malls across the country has been completely eliminated. Joint drives with law enforcement agencies are ongoing to prevent the use of polythene in manufacturing plants, kitchen markets, and other locations.

As an alternative, a joint project with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute has been undertaken to ensure the affordable supply of jute bags. In air pollution control, the National Air Quality Management Plan has been formulated, 830 illegal brick kilns have been demolished, and the process to declare Savar and Ashulia in Dhaka as 'Degraded Airsheds' is underway. Illegal lead factories have been shut down, and youth have been engaged in awareness campaigns against noise pollution. In Gazipur, connections from nine factories polluting the Gacha canal have been completely severed, and all polythene-producing factories have been closed.