Govt fails to take effective action against polluters for legal complexities
Friday, 5 June 2009
State Minister for Environment and Forests advocate Mostafizur Rahman Thursday admitted that they could not take effective action against the environment polluters simply due to some legal complexities and limitations of environmental laws, reports UNB.
"I think, legal complexities over environmental issues should be resolved… restructuring of existing environmental laws is needed to take effective action against the environment polluters," he said at a press briefing at the PID conference room, ahead of the World Environment Day-2009 Friday.
The state minister, however, said that the government was working to bring necessary changes in laws and assured to take action against polluters.
Replying to a question, he said that the developed countries were responsible for global warming while its worst sufferers were the developing countries like Bangladesh. "We're bargaining over compensation for this and a final decision may come from the next meeting of world leaders at Copenhagen."
Adv Mostafizur Rahman said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might join the Copenhagen meeting along with experts and Bangladesh would take a strong position on the compensation issue.
Replying to another question, he said the government has a plan to bring 1.3 million (13 lakh) acres across the country under social forestry programme.
He said the government would work sincerely to make the river Buriganga free from pollution and grabbers to save Dhaka city and action would be taken against the violators.
The state minister also said that the World Environment Day-2009 would be observed across the country as elsewhere around the world with the slogan - Your Planet Needs You: Unite to Combat Climate Change - to create awareness about environmental hazards. The day will be observed in the country through two-day programmes including discussion, rally, Environment Fair, broadcasting special programmes on TV and Radio, colourful processions, painting contests, essay writing competitions for juveniles and children and open discussion.
The Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the inaugural session of the two-day programme at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city Friday morning.
Environment and Forests Secretary Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder, Principal Information Officer Iftekhar Hossain, and acting Director General of Directorate of Environment M Belal Hossain were present at the briefing.
"I think, legal complexities over environmental issues should be resolved… restructuring of existing environmental laws is needed to take effective action against the environment polluters," he said at a press briefing at the PID conference room, ahead of the World Environment Day-2009 Friday.
The state minister, however, said that the government was working to bring necessary changes in laws and assured to take action against polluters.
Replying to a question, he said that the developed countries were responsible for global warming while its worst sufferers were the developing countries like Bangladesh. "We're bargaining over compensation for this and a final decision may come from the next meeting of world leaders at Copenhagen."
Adv Mostafizur Rahman said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might join the Copenhagen meeting along with experts and Bangladesh would take a strong position on the compensation issue.
Replying to another question, he said the government has a plan to bring 1.3 million (13 lakh) acres across the country under social forestry programme.
He said the government would work sincerely to make the river Buriganga free from pollution and grabbers to save Dhaka city and action would be taken against the violators.
The state minister also said that the World Environment Day-2009 would be observed across the country as elsewhere around the world with the slogan - Your Planet Needs You: Unite to Combat Climate Change - to create awareness about environmental hazards. The day will be observed in the country through two-day programmes including discussion, rally, Environment Fair, broadcasting special programmes on TV and Radio, colourful processions, painting contests, essay writing competitions for juveniles and children and open discussion.
The Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the inaugural session of the two-day programme at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city Friday morning.
Environment and Forests Secretary Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder, Principal Information Officer Iftekhar Hossain, and acting Director General of Directorate of Environment M Belal Hossain were present at the briefing.