Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
INTRODUCTION
1
processes and the burning of solid waste. Dhaka is fast turning into an inhabitable
city. Dhaka city air reported to containing higher proportion of lead and carbon
mono oxide (CO) must be considered very alarming. Air pollution has become a
matter of great concern for us in recent years. Those who are living in cities in
Asian countries including Dhaka have already realized how seriously air pollution
has been poisoning life and degrading the environment. Faulty vehicles, especially
diesel run vehicles, brick kilns, and dust from roads and construction sites and
toxic fumes from industries contribute to air pollution. Industrialization and
mechanized vehicles are two major sources of air pollution in our country. Those
are unavoidable accompaniments of increased economic activity of any country.
The number of automobiles has been increasing in Dhaka city at the rate of at
least 10 to 20% annually, which has been contributing to air pollution on the one
hand and traffic congestion on the other. The International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) stated in its News Briefs that pollution levels of lead in Bangladesh are
among the world’s highest during dry season, according to Bangladesh Atomic
Energy Commission (BAEC), with levels falling during periods of medium and
heavy rainfall. The volume of poisonous particles in the city air has reached far
beyond the permissible level for human body in recent years.2
The Dhaka city dwellers are always at a serious health risk due to the highly
polluted air, warned health experts. The increasingly high concentration of toxic
elements in the air is causing a foggy blanket in the city sky at present. According
to the website, poisonous carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide,
suspended particulate matter (PM-10) and particulate matter (PM-2.5) exist in
Dhaka's air beyond permissible level for human body. Due to increase of PM-10
and PM-2.5, people lose lung function and suffer from chronic respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases while nitrogen dioxide increase Air Pollution in Dhaka
City: A Burning Issue Islam MS 21 risks of bronchitis and pneumonia. Nitrogen
dioxide causes respiratory infection. Carbon monoxide reduces delivery of oxygen
2
into the human body, creates severe headache and decreases visual perception and
manual dexterity. Bangladesh has yet to be implemented a National Air Quality
Standard, there are no detail air quality regulations based on which Environmental
Impact Assessment could be done. Very few works have been done on air quality
measurements and national air pollutants estimates in Bangladesh. Government
should strengthen vehicle emission standards, regulations and enforcement.
Measures to reduce fuel demand and improve traffic conditions are also critical to
ensuring a net emission reduction and should be used as a complement to
technical measures.3
3 [http://www.global.oup.com/academic/product/international-law-and-the-environment, Last
Visited on 14.01.2017].
3
Chapter 2
GENERAL CONCEPT
4 [http://www.bangladeshenvironment.com/index.php/polution-s/air-polution/291, Last
Visited date on 22.11.2016].
5 [http://www.medlineplus.gov/airpollution.html, Last Visited date on 23.11.2016].
4
city at the rate of at least 10 per cent annually, which has been contributing to air
pollution on the one hand and traffic congestion on the other.
The main pollutants from gasoline powered internal combustion engines are
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, Sulphur dioxide particulates of
lead compound and unburned carbon particles. Emissions from diesel engines are
smoke, carbon monoxide, unburned carbon, nitrogen oxides and Sulphur dioxide.
What we find is either absence or little effective cooperation of the members
of the public and the concerned agencies with the Department of Environment
(DOE) in implementation of laws and regulations to help reduce air pollution.
DOE gets little cooperation also from the transport owners and their employees
including drivers in this regard. DOE's initiatives for daily monitoring of vehicles
at certain city points sometimes do not succeed due to non-availability of
members of law enforcing agencies.6
In the past our attempts to prohibit plying of old vehicles in city streets
failed either for political reasons or in the face of resistance by transport owners
and their employees. But if our neighboring countries can improve air quality of
their cities by banning use of old vehicles and also relocating some of their
polluting industries, authorities in Bangladesh can also do so.
5
that are poisonous and cause irritation and public complaints. This may cause
headache and other health problems.
7 [http://www.bangladeshenvironment.com/index.php/polution-s/air-polution/291-air-
pollution-in-dhaka-city, Last Visited on 30.03.2017].
6
Contributing factors for vehicular emission in Dhaka are: poor fuel quality,
poorly maintained vehicles, inadequate transport infrastructure, lack of proper
transport planning and management
Dhaka city’s traffic problems and ambient air quality condition had reached
such a crisis proportion that the challenge of sustaining economic growth and
ensuring reasonable quality of life has become tougher.
Deteriorating traffic and air pollution conditions had prompted the
government to find urgent solutions.
The primary objective of the project is to develop components of an air
quality management system and to reduce human exposure to vehicular air
pollution in Dhaka city only. The project activities subsequently extended to five
Divisional towns under an extended monitoring program.
7
Chapter 3
CAUSE OF AIR POLLUTION IN DHAKA CITY BY VEHICLES
The Problem
The causes of traffic congestion in Dhaka are many. Starting from the city center,
the skeleton, the structure and the lay-out of Dhaka’s roads are not well-planned
and well-directed, and the population overwhelms the capacity of the road system.
While the Bangladesh government mandates 25 percent of all roads to be paved,
Dhaka has only 7.5 percent.
Even more, 30 percent of the paved roads have additional obstructions to
traffic: hawkers, salesmen, construction materials, waste containers and road-side
stands that are on the pavement rather than on the shoulder of the road. As a result,
vehicles have even fewer lanes to use.8
Dhaka has Several Types of Vehicles
8 ‘Lack of Enforcement of Law,’The New Age [http://www.The New Age.bd.com, Last
Visited on 05.01.2017].
8
Public buses, taxis, microbuses, private vehicles, motorcycles, rickshaws and
more. The increasing population increases the demand for more vehicles on the
streets, and the result is both motorized and non-motorized vehicles occupy the
same streets at the same time.
Rickshaws are a common reason for traffic jams. The number of rickshaws
is very high and they don’t follow any traffic laws.
The public transport system in Dhaka is not adequate or properly-routed.
The three major bus stations, Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Mohakhali do not have
sufficient capacity to accommodate all the buses coming in from other districts,
nor enough buses to handle all the people who want to use the buses for
transportation.
As a result, mini-buses, microbuses and private vehicles that can only carry
a few passengers at a time add to the traffic congestion.
Limited parking arrangements are another major cause of excessive traffic in
Dhaka. It has become a regular practice to park cars on roads because businesses
and apartments do not construct designated parking areas. In addition to the
sources of traffic congestion, the actual condition of the roads contributes to the
transportation difficulties. In most cases roads are winding and twisting, which
results in a larger number of intersections.9
Lack of proper maintenance means drivers are likely to stop or swerve
unexpectedly to avoid bad sections of the road. During the rainy season, the
situation becomes more critical because the roads are sometimes under water due
to heavy rainfall.
9 [http://www.kgou.org/post/bangladesh-capital-city-struggles-traffic-lack-will-change, Last
Visited on 27.12.2016].
9
The suffering public is only too aware of the total lawlessness in the
transport sector. The alarming number of vehicles on the road without fitness is an
indication of the appalling state of affairs.11
Vehicles without fitness are being given fitness certificates, and vehicles
without fitness certificates are also on the roads. The law enforcement agencies
that should be taking measures against them are turning a blind eye.12
Many of these vehicles have fitness certificates even though they are unfit
while some don’t have the document at all or have expired papers or are entirely
illegal. A total of 87,795 unfit motor vehicles are plying on the city roads of
Dhaka in violation of set laws and posing threat to commuters’ safety, besides
contributing to traffic congestion and environmental hazards.
10
d) Everyday work-hours are unnecessarily wasted due to traffic jam. It has a
great economic impact on production and thus on our economy.
e) Traffic congestions intensify sufferings of commuters keeping people
motionless as well as creating suffocating condition in the streets.
11
occur inside a cylinder. These engines are noted for their high overall efficiency
and low operating cost, lightweight and compactness and constant readiness for
starting. Exhaust emission from internal combustion engine is the major source of
air pollution. Combustion Stoichiometry means relations between the composition
of the reactants (fuel and air) of a combustible mixture and the composition of the
products. These relations depend only in the conservation of mass of each
chemical element in the reactants.15
12
Moreover, the overloaded of poorly maintained old trucks and mini-buses
are also give the city streets emitting smokes and gases. Thus, diesel vehicles emit
black smoke, which contain unburned fine carbon particles is a major problem in
Dhaka city.17
17 [http://www.globaljournals.org/GJSFR_Volume13/6-Analysis-of-Exhaust-Emission-of-
Vehicles.pdf, Last Visited on 1.03.2017].
18 [http://www.importantindia.com/23688/vehicle-pollution/, Last Visited on 2.04.2017].
13
restricted the use of tetraethyl (TEL) in gasoline, the Eastern Refinery of
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) was previously mixing 0.84 gm TEL
per liter fuel. The BPC supplies sulphur free petrol but imports diesel containing
1% sulphur per liter although the international standard is only 0.2% (Khuda,
2001). The government is changing the policy since 2000 to adopt CNG as a
cleaner fuel for the transport sector by converting diesel-engines with the aim of
mitigating air pollution. However, did not achieve any remarkable results yet. Till
a large number or motorized vehicles use high lead-content gasoline or impure
diesel and thus increase the gaseous PM pollutant in the air. However, the
government had come to an agreement for importing lead-free gasoline and
presently the BPC is supplying the lead-free petrol and octane (Rahman and
Nahrin, 2007). People are suffering for different health related problems resulting
from air pollution because of poor fuel quality used in motorized vehicles and
poor local air quality management. So, a strong policy guideline is necessary for
local air quality management.19
14
The concerned authorities – Traffic Department of Dhaka Metropolitan
Police (DMP), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City
Corporation (DSCC) and Rajuk – offer no solution.
The DMP is chiefly responsible for the traffic system and enforcing parking
laws, while the DSCC, DNCC and Rajuk are responsible for providing parking
space and monitoring their arrangement.21
Chapter 4
VEHICLES REGULATION ACT
15
To support development of AQMP II/CASE a consultant was hired to undertake
an institutional assessment of urban air quality management (UAQM) in
Bangladesh. This report constitutes the assessment.
16
4.3 Environment Conservation Rules, 1997
To support the Act, the Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 (ECR-1997), were
enacted. The rules contain requirements for sources of air pollution, and other
environmental contaminants, to obtain a Clearance before a pollutant source can
be built or modified. The Rules also enumerate many environmental standards for
specific sources of emissions, e.g., brick kilns, coal fired power plants and cement
plants to name just a few.24
Chapter 5
CASE STUDY
17
Writ Petition No. 300 of 1995 (2002.03).
Issue: Vehicle Pollution Case: Application for Directions re: Fuel Quality,
Catalytic Converters, Inspection Center and Horns.
Fact
The case of the petition in brief is that the problem of air pollution from faulty
motor vehicles has been universally identified as a major threat to human body
and life by various scientific research, studies, investigations, reports, surveys
conducted by various persons, agencies, institutions, both national and
international and the agencies of the Government have highlighted the issue in
their various reports and publications.The most threatening urban center is Dhaka
which is the capital of the country. Amongst those the air pollution, especially
from the faulty motor vehicles, have choked the air of the Dhaka City.Such
violations and the consequences are clearly visible in the Dhaka City which need
no evidence to anyone who has been to the Dhaka City.
The degree of vehicular, pollution in the Dhaka City areas has exceeded all
limits and such concerns are being raised by public and private bodies and
individuals repeatedly through the news papers and the state controlled electronic
media of the country the proposed Environment conservation Bill, 1994 which has
been approved by the Cabinet and is pending for placement before the parliament,
has incorporated a separate and specific provision in section 6 only on this issue
with higher penal sanction.
The Second Meeting of the National Environment Committee held on 04-05-97
being presided over by the Hon’ble Prime Ministers, included the pollution caused
by the hazardous emission from motor vehicles as the first agenda for discussion.
It was disclosed in the said meeting that 70%-80% of the motor vehicles plying on
the streets is not road worthy. The measures recommended by the said Respondent
include, among others, the following
18
a) Take a greater attempt regarding fitness of vehicles. Gradually phase out
two-stroked engine vehicles and ban the plying of such vehicles that are
older than three years.
b) Direct the Eastern Refinery to provide lead-free petrol.
1) To enforce Rule 114 (d) of the Bengal Motor Vehicles Rules 1940 and
section 139 of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983.
2) To conduct tests of vehicles in the 5 Vehicles Inspection Centers already
handed over to BRTA within 6 (six) months and to issue certificate of fitness of
the vehicles including Motor Cycle (Two wheelers).
3) To implement the decision of the respondents for converting all
government owned patrol/diesel driven vehicles plying in the Dhaka Metropolitan
City into C.N.G operated vehicles within 6 (six) month.
4) To implement the decision of the respondents to set up six more C.N.G.
filling stations in Dhaka City by December, 2002 and also to set up more CNG
filling station from time to time to meet the requirements of vehicles and CNG
stations be maintained properly round the clock.
5) To implement decision of the respondents that all Motor vehicles from
July 2001 be fitted with catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter by
December, 2002.
19
6) To set Bangladesh standard for petroleum in accordance with the
international standards ensuring the reduction and removal of toxic and hazardous
constituents from the same.
7) To phase out existing 2 stroke 3 wheelers by December, 2002 and to
replace it with cleaner transport alternatives;
8) To impose ban on new licenses for two stroke 3 wheelers in Dhaka
Metropolitan City and cancellation of 9 years old licenses of baby taxis with
immediate effect. The respondents are directed to submit reports every six months
of actions and results of the above directions to this court.25
Chapter 6
20
POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF VEHICULAR AIR POLLUTION IN
DHAKA,
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
21
punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred Taka, or, if having been
previously convicted of any offence under this Ordinance he is again convicted of
an offence under this Ordinance, with fine which may extend to four hundred
Taka.27
22
and so on. In addition, a traffic signal system was introduced, investing a huge
amount of money. Though buses, trucks, rickshaws, trains and pedestrians have all
been blamed for the congestion in Dhaka, after imposing restrictions on them the
congestion level did not reduce. In this regard it is important to understand the
reasons for ongoing congestion and the mechanisms likely to reduce it.29
23
significant and point to a brighter future as older diesel vehicles die out or
are retrofitted.30
24
their inventory, permits and inspections. Bangladesh is uniquely situated to avoid
this costly problem and do it very effectively with current computer technology.
6.8 Recommendations
Vehicles air pollution is one of the most problem of Dhaka city of Bangladesh,
everyday vehicles emission are increasing from various reasons but there no
effective step to remove the problem which is one of the most causes of lack of
enforcement of law, and for this no cases filed against any persons or any
31 ‘Air Pollution in Dhaka City’, New Nation,[http://www.New Nation.com//news/88801/25-
pc-city-dwellers-victim-of-air-pollution.html, Last Visited on 18.04.2017].
32 [http://www.patimes.org/air-pollution-kills-15000-bangladeshis-each-year/, Last Visited on
7.04.2017].
33 The World Bank Report, 2012.
25
authority who makes vehicles air pollution by the violation of environmental law
and related all others law like Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983, Environment
Conservation Act, 1995 and the Environment Conservation Rules 1997, So that
the illegal activities are running fast because they know that
Typically, emission control program requires massive behavioral change
among thousands of drivers; among those who test and repair vehicles; and,
among those who manage, oversee, and enforce such programs. However, it is
possible with committed leadership, the right institutional design, and the right
incentives. Road side emission testing experiences offer the following
recommendations regard to pollution control from the vehicle sector:
a) Massive awareness program on Vehicular Emissions Standards,
maintenance of vehicles and emission impact on health to be
undertaken very soon all over the country.
b) In-use vehicle emissions standards should be revised and strict
enforcement of the emissions standards is essential.
c) 20-year-old buses and 25-year-old truck to be dumped forcefully and
all diesel vehicles must stop plying in Dhaka city. 2S-3w must ban as
soon as possible from all major cities.
d) Adequate infrastructure to be built in major cities for the emission
testing or checking in connection with BRTA.
e) All imported vehicles must have an emission compliance certificate
obtained by the vehicle manufacturer or the supplier from an
internationally accredited emission testing laboratory/agency and
showed for clearance of vehicle imports and also at the time of vehicle
registration.
f) Adequate infrastructure for maintenance of vehicles to be developed.
g) AQ Cell staff should be trained up through this ongoing Road side
emission testing program. Practice of QA/QC should be adopted for
increasing reliability of tests and minimizing false passes. More
realistic system based on dynamometer tests is to be developed in the
long run.
26
h) Establish more number of CNG stations in others city where CNG is
accessible.
i) Campaigns like “No Pollution Week/Pollution Month” should be
taken up by the city corporation with DoE to increase awareness for
I&M.
6.9 Conclusion
The problem of traffic congestion and uncontrolled vehicle emissions make life
miserable and causing threat to health and economic loss as well. Public transport
service and air quality situation of Dhaka City is continuously deteriorating every
year and imposing huge cost on the society. Though there is little information on
human health, there is clear evidence that the air quality in Dhaka is harmful for
the city dwellers and it is causing not only discomfort but also several diseases
including allergy and asthma. Such a problem needs immediate attention from the
policy makers. As vehicle and emissions is a major contributor to air pollution, it
is possible to improve air quality by reducing the vehicle stock through improving
the public transport system service. Government should strengthen vehicle
emission standards (VES), regulations, enforcement and measures to reduce fuel
demand and improve traffic conditions. Improved public transport facilities of the
city could solve the transport and congestion problems, as well as improve the air
quality.
Bangladesh has yet to be implemented a National Air Quality Standard,
there are no detail air quality regulations based on which Environmental Impact
Assessment could be done. Very few works have been done on air quality
measurements and national air pollutants estimates in Bangladesh. Author is
willing to extend his assistance in doing any projects related to road traffic
pollution in Bangladesh.34
Mainly Motor vehicles, especially two-stroke engine vehicles are an
increasingly important source of air pollution emissions in Dhaka. Further
34 [http://www.bangladeshenvironment.com/index.php/polution-s/air-polution/291-air-
pollution-in-dhaka-city, Last Visited on 10.04.2017].
27
understanding of the sources of air pollution, the contribution of vehicles to air
pollution emissions, and the characteristics of vehicular emission control measures
is necessary to design a cost effective action plan. It is recommended that
government will undertake actual measurement of emission factors, complete the
emission inventory, and conduct an investigation on emission control measures. A
set of cost effective technical measures are already available for controlling
pollution emissions by two strokes 3-wheelers.Government should strengthen
vehicle emission standards, regulations and enforcement. Measures to reduce fuel
demand and improve traffic conditions are also critical to ensuring a net emission
reduction and should be used as a complement to technical measures.35
28
REFERENCES
Statutes
1.Motor Vesicles Ordinance,1983.
2.Environment Conservation Act,1995.
3. Environment Conservation Rules,1997.
Newspapers
1. The Daily Star (27 December 2016).
2. The Daily Star (28 December 2016).
3. The New Age (5 March 2017).
4. New Nation (18 January 2017).
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29
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30
18. [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/cleaner-fuels-help-clean-air-minnesota,
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31