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Terming Environ Ministry 'incompetent', planning adviser conceives way to bypass it
Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud
Dhaka, Dec 23 - Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Monday termed the Environment Ministry ‘incompetent like other ministries’.
“The Environment Ministry, like all ministries in the country, is incompetent,” the advisor said while briefing reporters after the ECNEC meeting.
He said that almost all projects have the involvement of the Environment Ministry, and they must be more judicious in saying yes or no.
“In a densely populated country like ours, any project will cause some environmental damage. The reality is that we have to see how much benefit is being gained compared to how much damage is being done to the environment.”
In the existing system, Wahiduddin Mahmud said that after the project is formulated, it is sent to the Department of Environment, and they say yes or no after a few days.
“Through this, it is not possible to be sure whether the project is actually environmentally friendly or profitable. That is why we have proposed that the Planning Commission include environmental experts during project formulation.”
He said in that case, the Department of Environment will not be so important. The projects will be formulated in such a way that the damage to the environment is minimal.-UNB