Stop tree, hill cutting, filling water bodies: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday called upon all concerned to stop the indiscriminate felling of trees, filling water bodies and cutting hills to protect the country’s biodiversity and environment.
She also reiterated her call to every citizen to plant at least three saplings – one of timber, one of fruit and one of herbal – to protect the environment and ecology of the country.
The prime minister was addressing a function at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh, marking ‘The National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2016’ and ‘World Environment Day and Environment Fair-2016’.
Sheikh Hasina laid emphasis on taking various programmes and projects considering the country’s huge population and its geographical location.
She mentioned her government success in achieving food autarky and that has been possible for working with time befitting plans.
Hasina said environment and afforestation are interlinked. ‘So, the government has taken steps for the conservation of the existing forests and creating new forests under public and private sectors.’
The prime minister said the country’s forest areas have increased to 17 per cent from 9 per cent after the Awami League government assumed office in 2009 while it is working to further increase the forest coverage to 25 per cent.
Referring to the recent flood that hit different areas in northern Bangladesh, she urged all to come forward to help the flood victims.
About her government’s initiatives to set up 100 economic zones in the country, the prime minister stressed the need for keeping in mind the issues of protecting the environment and building water bodies and other facilities there.
She also asked the forest and environment ministry to strictly monitor the issue.
Highlighting the adverse impact of green house effects, Hasina directed all the ministries and departments to work with the ministry of environment and forest in a coordinated manner.
Mentioning that the government has brought the environmental and ecological issues to the mainstream of development, the prime minister said Bangladesh allocated around Tk 3000 crore to deal with the climate-induced disasters instead of relying on others.
Hasina said 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – projects were taken in industries to control environment pollution. Industry owners will have to be more sincere and take initiative in waste management as the government has made mandatory establishment of ETP at all waste generating industries.
Environment and forests minister Anwar Hossain Manju, deputy minister Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed, director general of the department of environment Md Raisul Alam Mondal and chief conservator of forests Md Yunus Ali also spoke at the programme.
At the function, Hasina handed over Prime Minister’s National Award-2015 for tree plantation and Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation-2016 individuals, educational institutions, local government bodies, government departments and NGOs in various categories.
The prime minister also handed over benefit-sharing cheques among the beneficiaries.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net