Contacts:
In Dhaka: Mehrin A. Mahbub (880-2) 8159001
mmahbub@worldbank.org
In Washington: Erik Nora (202) 458 4735
enora@worldbank.org
Dhaka, October 05: With already over 12 million population, Dhaka is projected to become the third largest city by 2020 with over 20 million population. Poor air quality in urban area creates serious health hazards, adversely affects environment and quality of life. To address air pollution in Dhaka, the Government of Bangladesh with support from the World Bank today launched an innovative project ‘Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE). This is the first project that integrates environment and transport under one common objective of improving air quality.
It is estimated that if the exposure to urban air pollution were reduced by 20% to 80%, it would result in saving 1,200 to 3,500 lives annually and avoiding 80 to 230 million cases of disease. The concentration of the key air pollutant (Particulate Matter or PM) in Dhaka and other major cities has been alarmingly increasing in recent years, with an annual average much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds.
The Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project aims to improve air quality in Dhaka city by addressing two main air polluting sectors: the brick manufacturing sector and the transport sector. CASE is a 5 year project that became effective on August 19, 2009. The World Bank is providing US$62.20 million interest-free concessionary credit for the project.
“Poverty reduction and Environment sustainability are interlinked. Dhaka is one of the most densely populated mega cities with high risk of health hazards for its residents due to poor air quality.” said Mohamed Toure, Acting Operations Advisor, World Bank Bangladesh “World Bank is particularly happy to be able to support the Government to tackle Dhaka’s environmental, transport and traffic challenges through the innovatively designed CASE project focusing on reducing air pollution and safe mobility under a co-benefit approach”
The CASE project will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Environment and Forest to improve air quality monitoring in Bangladesh. It will also introduce cleaner technologies, in the very polluting brick manufacturing sector. These energy efficient new technologies will reduce energy consumption and lower air pollution.
In urban transport, the project will introduce low cost measures to reduce conflict between motorized and non-motorized transport, reduce congestion and provide safer and cleaner mobility for pedestrian in pilot areas in Dhaka. Close collaboration between Dhaka City Corporation, Dhaka Transport Coordination Board and Dhaka Metropolitan Police is essential for the success of this project.
For more information on the World Bank in Bangladesh, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/bd
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