2 companies in Chattogram fined Tk13 lakh for air pollution
The Department of Environment has fined the two companies after two separate hearings
The Department of Environment (DoE) has imposed a fine of Tk13 lakh on two companies in Chattogram for air pollution.
The DoE on Sunday fined Modern Steel Tk9 lakh for defective air treatment plants and emitting suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air, exceeding acceptable levels.
NGS Cement was fined Tk4 lakh for having excess SPM in the air around the factories.
DoE Director (Chattogram Metro) Mohammad Nurullah Noori fined the two companies after two separate hearings. He instructed Modern Steel to modernise their air treatment plants and NGS to control air pollution.
Confirming the matter to The Business Standard, Mohammad Nurullah Noori said, "According to our laboratory analysis, the air samples collected from Modern Steel on 16 November showed 341 SPM on the east side, 72 on the west, 410 on the north and 429 on the south.
The same conditions were found in air samples collected from NGS cement. The samples collected on 24 November from around the factory contained SPM in excess of acceptable levels, he added.
According to the Environmental Protection Rules, 1997 (amended 2005), the maximum acceptable level of SPM is 200.