Forest and Environment Minister Sayeda Sajeda Chowdhury told the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday various steps have been taken to check the air and sound pollution in the four metropolitan cities, including Dhaka.

The minister was replying to a call attention notice on the air pollution in the city moved by Tasmima Hussain of the Jatiya Party. Sajeda Chowdhury also replied to a number of questions relating to environment.

She said, letters have been sent to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates of Dhaka. Khulna. Chittagong and Rajshahi asking them to set up mobile courts with the aim of checking vehicles emitting black smoke. A letter was also sent to the DC (Traffic) of DMP asking him to gearup their drive against faulty vehicles.

The minister however admitted that due to insufficient number of police and magistrates. it was not possible to operate mobile courts as frequently as possible. But steps । have been taken to operate such 1 courts at least 15 days a month in Dhaka City.

She came up with suggestions that all automobiles should have anti-emission devices and use lead-free fuel with lesser sulfur contents. Besides, the minister said the number of buses should be increased in the metropolitan areas and steps should be taken to end the traffic-jam.

Sajeda Chowdhury said, a draft of environment protection rules. 1997 has already been prepared and the government would soon approve it. Meanwhile, a "Bangladesh Environmental Project" has been taken up as a follow-up action of the National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP). said the minister.