Bangladesh

Khulna chokes on dust

dust pollution in Khulna
File photo: Star

Khulna city is grappling with an escalating dust pollution crisis, exacerbated by ongoing development projects, poor environmental management, and unregulated industrial expansion.

Despite the World Health Organization's initiative to transform Khulna into a healthy city by 2027, the air quality remains alarmingly poor, significantly impacting the health and livelihoods of residents.

Large-scale development projects, including the Khulna WASA sewage system and KCC drainage system, have left roads unattended for months, contributing to severe dust accumulation.

Projects such as KCC's Tk 823 crore drainage initiative and Tk 607 crore road development effort, along with Tk 500 crore of additional work by K-WASA and other agencies, have intensified the problem, particularly during the dry season.

These unfinished and poorly managed projects have led to hazardous conditions across the city.

Unregulated industrial activities, the burning of fossil fuels, and a growing number of motor vehicles without proper emission controls further aggravate the air quality.

The lack of green spaces and the careless dumping of construction materials on roads exacerbate the already dire situation, leaving residents to contend with persistent dust pollution.

Prolonged exposure to dust has led to widespread health issues, including respiratory illnesses.

Ajoy Sarker, a salon owner in Khalishpur, has developed asthma and chest diseases despite no family history of such conditions.

"I have also faced significant business losses as customers avoid the area due to the unbearable conditions," he said.

Similarly, thousands of residents across multiple wards, including Khalishpur, Navy Check Post, Jora Gate, and others, report enduring severe dust pollution for over six years.

The problem extends beyond KCC areas, with locations like Joybangla Mor and Zero Point experiencing frequent clouds of dust stirred up by passing buses and trucks.

Roads such as Sonadanga Bypass Road, which serves over 400 buses daily, remain in deplorable condition, with heavy dust spreading across the area. The Rupsha Shipyard Road, incomplete for 13 years, is another major contributor to the crisis. Other critical roads, including those in Sonadanga, BIDC, and the bypass routes, are similarly neglected, further worsening the situation.

Experts highlight that Khulna's air quality frequently surpasses unhealthy levels, with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations often exceeding 350 µg/m³ and, at times, spiking to 450 µg/m³. Sulfur dioxide levels also remain above safe limits, adding to the public health emergency. Residents struggle to mitigate the effects of suspended particulate matter, which poses severe risks, particularly during the dry season.

Sadhon Chandra Swarnokar, a lecturer at Khulna University, said air pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is a public health emergency waiting for urgent action.

"To combat this crisis, coordinated efforts are needed, including stricter enforcement of environmental laws, cleaner technologies promotion, public transportation enhancement, and community awareness campaigns,'' he added.

Advocate Babul Hawladar, member secretary of Khulna Nagorik Samaj, criticised contractors and agencies for failing to complete projects on time. "They dump construction materials on roads, causing further pollution. K-WASA and KDA must finish their work on schedule," he said.

While KCC has repaired nearly 600 roads and 345 drains over the past two years, the city's air quality has deteriorated significantly.

Md Abdul Aziz, superintendent engineer of KCC, said KCC uses two modern road-sweeping trucks equipped with water tanks.

"We need more sweeping machine to clean dust regularly,'' he added. "Besides, house owners carelessly pile sand and other construction materials on road which worsens the situation,'' he added.

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Khulna chokes on dust

dust pollution in Khulna
File photo: Star

Khulna city is grappling with an escalating dust pollution crisis, exacerbated by ongoing development projects, poor environmental management, and unregulated industrial expansion.

Despite the World Health Organization's initiative to transform Khulna into a healthy city by 2027, the air quality remains alarmingly poor, significantly impacting the health and livelihoods of residents.

Large-scale development projects, including the Khulna WASA sewage system and KCC drainage system, have left roads unattended for months, contributing to severe dust accumulation.

Projects such as KCC's Tk 823 crore drainage initiative and Tk 607 crore road development effort, along with Tk 500 crore of additional work by K-WASA and other agencies, have intensified the problem, particularly during the dry season.

These unfinished and poorly managed projects have led to hazardous conditions across the city.

Unregulated industrial activities, the burning of fossil fuels, and a growing number of motor vehicles without proper emission controls further aggravate the air quality.

The lack of green spaces and the careless dumping of construction materials on roads exacerbate the already dire situation, leaving residents to contend with persistent dust pollution.

Prolonged exposure to dust has led to widespread health issues, including respiratory illnesses.

Ajoy Sarker, a salon owner in Khalishpur, has developed asthma and chest diseases despite no family history of such conditions.

"I have also faced significant business losses as customers avoid the area due to the unbearable conditions," he said.

Similarly, thousands of residents across multiple wards, including Khalishpur, Navy Check Post, Jora Gate, and others, report enduring severe dust pollution for over six years.

The problem extends beyond KCC areas, with locations like Joybangla Mor and Zero Point experiencing frequent clouds of dust stirred up by passing buses and trucks.

Roads such as Sonadanga Bypass Road, which serves over 400 buses daily, remain in deplorable condition, with heavy dust spreading across the area. The Rupsha Shipyard Road, incomplete for 13 years, is another major contributor to the crisis. Other critical roads, including those in Sonadanga, BIDC, and the bypass routes, are similarly neglected, further worsening the situation.

Experts highlight that Khulna's air quality frequently surpasses unhealthy levels, with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations often exceeding 350 µg/m³ and, at times, spiking to 450 µg/m³. Sulfur dioxide levels also remain above safe limits, adding to the public health emergency. Residents struggle to mitigate the effects of suspended particulate matter, which poses severe risks, particularly during the dry season.

Sadhon Chandra Swarnokar, a lecturer at Khulna University, said air pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is a public health emergency waiting for urgent action.

"To combat this crisis, coordinated efforts are needed, including stricter enforcement of environmental laws, cleaner technologies promotion, public transportation enhancement, and community awareness campaigns,'' he added.

Advocate Babul Hawladar, member secretary of Khulna Nagorik Samaj, criticised contractors and agencies for failing to complete projects on time. "They dump construction materials on roads, causing further pollution. K-WASA and KDA must finish their work on schedule," he said.

While KCC has repaired nearly 600 roads and 345 drains over the past two years, the city's air quality has deteriorated significantly.

Md Abdul Aziz, superintendent engineer of KCC, said KCC uses two modern road-sweeping trucks equipped with water tanks.

"We need more sweeping machine to clean dust regularly,'' he added. "Besides, house owners carelessly pile sand and other construction materials on road which worsens the situation,'' he added.

Comments

বইমেলায় এ ধরনের অপ্রীতিকর ঘটনা বাংলাদেশের উন্মুক্ত সাংস্কৃতিক চর্চাকে ক্ষুণ্ন করে: প্রধান উপদেষ্টা

‘এ ধরনের বিশৃঙ্খল আচরণ বাংলাদেশে নাগরিকের অধিকার ও দেশের আইন—উভয়ের প্রতিই অবজ্ঞা প্রদর্শন করে।’

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