Insiders smell something fishy at the drastic fall in fines imposed by the Department of Environment (DoE) indicating that the officials are being managed by the stakeholders.
According to the data available with the government, fines imposed against different factories and others by the DoE authority for their involvement with environmental pollution have come down by nearly 90 per cent in just four years.
The official data showed that a total of Tk 4.10 billion was fined by the DoE authority against different factories in punitive measures for environmental pollution in different forms which came down to only Tk 0.44 billion in January-November period of the current calendar year.
 "Drastic fall in fines proves that there is something wrong. If there is no unfair means, then how can the amount of fines come down by 90 per cent in a year?" a high official at the DoE told the FE preferring anonymity.
 "Once we were used to seeing that if a factory was accused of pollution, then polluters were fined a significant amount of money. But nowadays the figure of fines has come down to a lower level. It is also an indicator of unfair means," he added.
Chairman of Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) Abu Naser Khan said the apathy of the department created scope for most of the factory owners even not to use their installed ETPs.
 "We were very happy to see a vigorous drive of the DoE drawn during the earlier period, but it did not continue. The department is now very reluctant to take punitive measures against environmental polluters," he added.
 "We, the volunteers, are leaving no stone unturned to make the earth livable, but the government is reluctant to do this. Bangladesh is the worst victim of environmental pollution. If the government is not serious on the issue, then what can charitable organisations do?" Mr Khan posed the question.
"Government's reluctance to bring the factory-owners to under a system and unfair dealings of the officials concerned of DoE are equally responsible for the situation,' Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan said.
 "Almost all the water bodies are dangerously polluted mostly by the factories. Our findings say that if the government does not try to realise the future impact of such pollution, then it should be deemed that bad days are ahead of the nation," she added. Â
However, Director (Monitoring & Enforcement) of DoE Md Alamgir said the department cannot run adequate drives against environmental polluters for want of resources.
 "This department has only eight to ten officers and staff. So can you tell us how the department can run operation against such a large number of illegal activities?" he questioned.
Mr Alamgir said the department has to manage police force, wreckers, scientists and other required manpower and logistics from different departments of the government before any drive.
 "So it becomes troublesome for the department to run required number of drives against pollution which is actually the main reason behind the poor achievement." Â
 "Besides, following the drive from the DoE and pressure from the buyers, most of the factories of the country have installed ETPs (effluent treatment plants). It is also another vital reason of drastic fall in fine," Alamgir informed the FE.
Meanwhile, replying to a query from the FE, the director said none of the department is involved with any unfair means relating to enforcement and awarding any punitive measures against any of the organisations which cause air, water, sound or other pollution.
However, according to the DoE, the department realised fine worth Tk 4.10 billion from 303 factory owners in 2011, which came down to Tk 0.40 billion from 430 factories in 2012, to Tk 0.27 billion from 404 factory owners in 2013 and to Tk 0.44 billion during January to 19th November period of the running year.
Drastic fall in fines by DoE
Badrul Ahsan | Published: November 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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