The under-construction metro rail and Dhaka Elevated Expressway are the major air polluters in the capital, leaving people in severe health hazards, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).
In December, the department collected air samples from some sites of the two projects and found much higher levels of pollution than the standard 200 parts per million (ppm).
However, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), the executing agencies of the highly budgeted projects, said they maintain environment during building work.
The DoE gets monthly environment reports from the DMTCL where pollution level was always shown below 200 ppm.
"We haven't got high-level air pollution in metro or expressway construction not only in December, but also in earlier months," said a DoE official.
The two project offices were also fined Tk 300,000.
The DoE lab section conducted the survey on December 26 at Mirpur 10 and Agargaon crossings where work on Dhaka Mass Transit Line (MRT-06) is ongoing.
The sample of expressway was collected from Navy Headquarters at Banani the same day.
According to the findings, suspended particulate matter (SPM) at Mirpur 10 was 1,137 ppm and 1,111 ppm at Agargaon. It was 473 ppm at Navy headquarters.
Ambient Air Quality Standard as per the Environmental Conservation Rule-1997 is 200 ppm which is highest tolerable level.
Particle matters (PM) are measured in two sizes-PM 10 per microne or PM 2.5 micron.
In November, the lab found SPM at Mirpur 10 at 764 ppm and Agargaon at 820 ppm. At Banani and Navy headquarters, it was 425 ppm and 605 ppm respectively.
DoE assistant director Syful Ashrab said Tk 100,000 was fined to DMTCL and Tk 200,000 to BBA for their offense to pollutant air in November.
Though the air pollution level of BBA's site was lower than DMTCL project area, the DoE fined BBA double due to its location closed to sensitive and KPI areas.
The expressway which is planned to establish from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to at Sonirakhra of Dhaka-Chattogram Highway is now constructing elevated infrastructure till Mohakhali through Banani and Cantonment area as part of its first-phase work.
The DMTCL is constructing 20.1 kilometre elevated track of MRT-06 from Uttara to Motijheel through Pallabi, Mirpur 10, Agargaon, Farmgate, Shahbagh and Paltan.
Its fine was comparatively low as air sample collection area was close to commercial and less posh areas.
The DoE has already sent the December report to its enforcement section to take action against project implementers.
Even, the penalty is likely to be double than its previous rate.
DoE spokesperson Sharif said the department tried to alert relevant agencies through letters and newspaper advertisements but they hardly follow instructions.
The alert is issued with the advent of dry season when construction gets momentum.
BBA chief engineer Quazi Ferdous said they have followed the instructions by spraying water regularly and maintaining wall to protect people from any harm.
But maintaining the high environment standard needs a hefty budget for any project which often remains unavailable, he told the FE.
No DMTCL officials, including the managing director, could be talked over phone on Friday.
However, DoE officials alleged that the budget kept for environmental hazards are not spent properly.
During first-time penalty, the two agencies were told to maintain air quality through taking steps like covering construction materials for preventing dust.
Instead, the air quality index (AQI) found quality fall more than double than earlier level.
The department has shared the findings of air pollution levels in Dhaka city assessed by the US embassy recently to all agencies concerned.
The High Court's writ against the DOE dated on January 13 was also shared with these agencies for taking action in compliance with air ambient quality.
The DoE director general will appear before the court tomorrow to explain what steps have been taken to cut pollution and improve air quality in the city.
Earlier, the DoE under its clear air and sustainable environment (CASE) project found AQI 231 ppm in Dhaka on November 15, stating a very unhealthy situation.
