The government has decided to prohibit any new industrial unit and project from being established within 10 kilometres of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Environment and Climate Change Committee at the Secretariat with Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in the chair yesterday.

The ministry will soon issue a gazette notification in this regard, officials said.

A panel of experts will assess the environmental impact of existing industrial units within 10km of the ECA. Based on these assessments and existing court orders, further decisions will be made regarding those establishments.

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The meeting also approved amendments to the Climate Change Trust Rules allowing joint project proposals from government, private organisations, and NGOs.

It was also decided that all ministries will be consulted to formulate the next action plan to tackle noise pollution.

Besides, a target was set to ensure that at least 30 percent of bricks used in public and private construction are concrete blocks by 2025.

A coordination meeting at the secretary level will be held in May to follow up on the implementation.