The government has allocated Tk 14.96 billion for the Ministry of Environment and Forest in the proposed budget for fiscal 2019-20, which is up by Tk 1.56 billion from the last fiscal year's revised allocation of Tk 13.40 billion.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal placed the new budget in parliament on Thursday, reports UNB.
Of the total allocation, Tk 8.20 billion was proposed for operating expenditure and Tk 6.76 billion for development.
In his budget speech, the minister said, "To ensure sustainable development through the protection of environment, containing pollution, protection of biodiversity and tackling the adverse impact of climate, government has formulated the 'National Environment Policy 2018'. It has allocated tasks among different ministries/divisions and departments to ensure their implementation."
He said steps have been taken to conduct research for projection of sea-level rise in coastal areas of Bangladesh and its impact on agriculture, water resources and infrastructure.
Kamal said the government has enacted Brick Making and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2019 to reduce air pollution.
"Steps will be taken in the coming days for the protection of the Halda River, including declaration of the river as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), and introduction of eco-tourism in various protected areas," the minister said.
He said the allocation for climate financing was 5.37 per cent of the development budget in FY15, which rose to 8.26 per cent in FY19.