Industrial development and environmental management practices in Sreepur municipality, Gazipur

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.