The Government has recently included cold storages in 'Green Category' under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, Clause 20.
An SRO issued by Ministry of Environment and Forests included the new addition, said a statement of BUILD.
Earlier BUILD recommendation in favour of the inclusion at the 5th Private Sector Development Policy Coordination Committee Meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.
BUILD CEO Ferdaus Ara Begum hailed the effort of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Department of Environment that enables the entrepreneurs of the sector to contribute more to the country’s agro business economy.
Bangladesh has limited post-harvest storage infrastructure such as cold storages (current capacity 2.4 million MT in 393 cold storages all over the country against the demand of 4.5 million MT).
The shortage contributes to 40 per cent post-harvest losses worth USD 430 million a year- mostly borne by the farmers, also discouraging processors from investment (valued at USD 64 million) while Bangladesh needs at least 6.5 million MT or 1,244 cold storages to strive to reach 10 per cent cold storage infrastructure by 2022. (IFC Study)
Previously cold storage was under Orange B category of the Environment Policy 1992 and Environment Conservations Act 1995, Environment Conservation Rules 1997 and Environment Court Act 2000.
Cold storages used to require 13 different licenses, permits and clearances in order to set up and operate, including Environmental Clearance Certificate that additionally required Feasibility study of cold storage,Initial Environmental Examination including process flow diagram and pollution minimization plan including emergency plan for adverse environmental impact.
As well as cold storages, CNG/ Auto Gas Filling, Solar Power Centre, Bio Fertilizer, LPG Bottling Plant have also come under Green Category.
-rmc//