Abstract:
Bangladesh is struggling to accommodate its massive population and increasing the
national GDP for sustainable economic development. The country's population and labour
force are growing rapidly every year, and it is impossible that the growing labor force can
ever be absorbed in the agriculture sector only. Industrialization is a part of wider
modernization process, where social change and economic development are closely related
with technological innovation. Industry is the most potential sector to meet the huge
demand of basic necessities, thus creating the employment opportunities. Consequently,
industrial development has been encouraged by Industrial Policies of Bangladesh over the
last decade across the country to increase national gross domestic product. As a result,
industrial sector is taking the utmost place for urban growth with vast structural change to
the built environment of local area in Bangladesh and very often causing serious threat to
surrounding built environment due to unplanned and uncontrolled development. In fact,
there is no alternative of industrial development in the Bangladesh for economic
development. The sustainable urban development, environment-friendly industrial
development is only obligatory measures to overcome the existing vulnerable situation of
the built environment. Recently, a significant number of industries have been established
in municipal area and major source of revenue earning for several municipalities is the
industrial sector. On the other hand, conservation of safe and healthy environment for
citizens is one of the major concerns of municipalities. Municipalities mainly provide
‘NOC’ as environmental clearance while setting industry in urban area considering
environmental impact on surrounding areas. At present, environmental management
practices in municipalities are the burning issue in Bangladesh. This study mainly focuses
on the present environmental management practices while setting industry in a municipal
area. Sreepur municipality which is largest one in Bangladesh has been selected as study
area for this research. This study tried to figure out the actual role of Sreepur municipality
in the process of ‘NOC’ providing while setting industry. Data have been collected from
the ‘NOC’ register to classify the types and the spatial location of existing industries
established during 2004 to 2009 in Sreepur municipality. Then, an investigation has been
done on the submitted documents with the application form for getting ‘NOC’ from the
Sreepur municipality to establish industry. Finally, direct interview of municipal staff was
done in order to know the process of providing ‘NOC’ to know real strength, weakness and opportunity of Sreepur municipality. This study reveals that the mechanism of ‘NOC’
providing is very weak regarding environmental management practices. According to the
findings of the study, some recommendations have been given for improving the
mechanism of ‘NOC’ process and strengthening the municipality accordingly. Following
the recommendations of the study, Sreepur municipality will be able to take proper
decision in the process of providing ‘NOC’ to the industries. From the outcomes, it is
expected that the findings of this study will help to improve the relationship among
concerned government agencies through better coordination to ensure the environment
friendly industrial development in urban areas of our country.
