Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has announced Taka 797 crore budget for the Ministry of Environment and Forests for next fiscal year setting government’s four priority spending areas in this sector.He said in the FY 2013-2014, the priority spending areas of the government in the environment and forest sectors would be tackling the risks caused by climate change, conservation and sustainable management of forests resources, control of pollution and conservation of bio-diversity.
The government would allocate Taka 797 crore for environment and forests sector in the next fiscal year with a provision of Taka 334 crore to implement various projects of the ministry and
departments, the Finance Minister said in his budget budget speech in the Jatiya Sangsad.
He said, the government would implement a co-management model in protected areas with participation of people for conservation of bio-diversity. In the local planning committees on biodiversity conservation activities, 30 percent of the representation will be preserved for women, he added.
Muhith said, the level of risks of natural disaster has been heightened in last few decades in Bangladesh to a large extent because of the country’s geographical location and climatic condition.
Bangladesh had to sustain a total loss of USD 2,189 million due to natural disaster during 1990-2008 period which was equivalent to around 1.8 percent of the country’s GDP. So the government has attached special importance to mitigating the impacts of climate change, preservation of environment and disaster management, he said.
The Finance Minister pointed out the medium-term strategic objectives and activities of the ministry up to 2017-2018 to ensure a habitable and sustainable environment for the present and future generation of the country.
To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, the minister said, Department of Environment (DoE) would promote the projects under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in different districts to reduce carbon-methane emission.
He said mandatory use of improved technology for brickfields would be ensured while coastal forestation programme through community participation would be undertaken.
To give impetus to tree plantation, the finance minister said, priority would be given to creation and management of participatory block gardens and strip gardens as well as expanding homestead forestry and plant sapling on office premises.
Muhith said operation of the mobile courts would continue against production and use of harmful polythene and enforcement activities would be carried out to reduce pollution from motor vehicles, sound pollution and prevent industrial pollution.
