Govt asks for list of buses older than 20 years

The government has asked the transport authorities to provide a list of public buses having over 20 years of their economic life, in an effort to control air pollution in the capital.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury disclosed the plan at the secretariat on Sunday, reiterating the government's commitment that the Dhaka city buses older than 20 years in their economic life must be withdrawn to combat air pollution.

In response, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will send the list of such the buses by April 8.

The Transport Owners Association will provide a plan to withdraw those buses by April 20, the minister said.

"There will be no compromise in the greater national interests," he warned.

The environment minister came up with the plan at a discussion meeting held in the ministry about the control of air pollution caused by black smoke from public transport and not keeping construction materials in the open and burning of biomass waste.

Chowdhury said the budget allocation for pollution control in government development activities should be spent on implementation of air pollution control activities.

Titus Gas, Electricity Department, the WASA, the Dhaka City Corporations will coordinate the development plan related to road excavation.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has to stop importing diesel with sulphur.

The city corporations should take necessary measures to ensure that waste is not burnt in the open.

The RAJUK, the city Corporations, police department will ensure covering of construction materials during construction, the minister continued.

Old vehicles must be scrapped in full compliance with the rules. If any company fails to comply with the relevant conditions of environmental pollution control of the RAJUK, the permission of the related construction activities shall be cancelled.

Md Nabirul Islam, secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Iqbal Abdullah Harun, additional secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Nur Mohammad Mazumder, chairman of the BRTA, government officials concerned and representatives from Bangladesh Passengers' Welfare Association, among others, were present at the meeting.

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