Government bans establishment of new industries within 10 km ECA of Sundarbans
Staff Reporter: The government has decided to prohibit the establishment of any new industrial ventures or projects within the 10-kilometer Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will soon issue an official gazette notification in this regard.
This decision was taken at the 16th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Environment and Climate Change Committee held on Monday at the ministry’s conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was presided over by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources.
At the meeting, previous decisions taken under section 3.4.4 of the 2017 National Environment Committee and the 2021 Executive Committee were revised to strengthen the environmental protection of the Sundarbans. A neutral team of experts will assess the environmental impact of existing industries within the 10 km ECA. Based on this assessment and subject to court directives, further decisions regarding these establishments will be taken.
The committee also decided to amend the Climate Change Trust Rules, allowing joint project proposals by government agencies, private organizations, and NGOs. To combat noise pollution, opinions from all ministries will be gathered to develop a future action plan.
Proposals will be made to increase the enforcement budget of the Ministry of Environment. Additionally, proposals will be submitted to introduce and increase risk allowances for Forest Department employees. It was also decided to ensure at least 30% block usage in all public and private building construction by 2025. A coordination meeting at the secretary level will be held in May on this matter.
The meeting was attended by Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, Advisor to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Ministry of Liberation War Affairs; and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Home Affairs. Senior officials including Md. Ehsanul Haque, Senior Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division; Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Farzana Mamataj, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary, Local Government Division; and Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, among others, were present as committee members.
The decisions from the previous meeting and the agenda of the current meeting were presented via PowerPoint by Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Additional Secretary (Environment) of the Ministry and Member Secretary of the Committee.
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