The government has set a six-month timeline to withdraw over 10,000 old vehicles from streets by replacing them with new vehicles and explore the scope of introducing electric vehicles for reducing air pollution in the city.
The authorities were directed to withdraw 20-25 years old and other vehicles running without fitness certificate.
It also directed all concerned to start working for executing the directive and also exploring the scope of loan with low interest and framing policy and law, if necessary, by revising existing ones.
'There is no confusion about it. We will take any kind of stern actions after the timeframe,' Road Transport and Highways Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan told journalists after a meeting with stakeholders at Biddut Bhaban on Thursday.
Forest, Environment and Climate Change Adviser Adv Rizwana Hasan was also present in the meeting organised by Road Transport and Highways Division to remove old vehicles from the Dhaka City for reducing air pollution.
All stakeholders including Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, bus and truck owners and workers were present in the meeting. BUET professor Mohammad Shamsul Hoque also attended it.
Fouzul Kabir, also adviser for Energy, Power and Mineral Resources Minister said the six-month time was given so that public did not suffer due to taking immediate action. The interim government wanted to show improvement incrementally in reducing pollution, both air and sound as well as traffic jam, he added.
Forest and Environment and Climate Change Adviser Adv Rizwana Hasan who was also present in the meeting said the government was serious about finding a realistic solution this time so that people's sufferings could be reduced and the level of pollution brought down.
"Earlier many similar directives were given and many meetings were held. But we are now committed to executing the decision," she further said.
The adviser told the FE that in line with the decision, the authorities concerned would work to explore the scope of concessional loan for new vehicles or the scope of conversion of the existing buses, purchasing EVs etc during the period.
She also said a move would be taken to reduce honking, if necessary, by changing the law keeping a provision of fine as the law enforcing agency cannot fine the violators.
smunima@yahoo.com