PM directed to appoint skilled drivers in waste vehicles

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to set up a waste treatment plant of the city corporation outside the locality and to employ skilled drivers in waste vehicles to curb bad smell and environmental pollution.

The Prime Minister gave the directive at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday (February 8th). The meeting was chaired by ECNEC Chairperson Sheikh Hasina. The Prime Minister took part in the meeting via video conference from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters after the meeting at the NEC conference room in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The project was approved at a cost of Tk 333.32 crore to reduce traffic congestion in the Dhaka South City Corporation affiliated area by removing and managing waste, procuring modern vehicles used for road repairs and setting up mechanized parking. The Prime Minister gave these instructions while approving the project, said the Planning Minister.

He said that recently waste vehicle drivers of Dhaka South and North City have caused some tragic incidents. We are all saddened by this. The Prime Minister is also aware of the issues. Therefore, she said, under the new project, skilled people should be ensured in the vehicles purchased for waste management in South City. The drivers of the cars that have been purchased will have to undergo special training. I don't want to see these incidents (accidents) anymore.

The planning minister said the prime minister had said that these refineries should be set up outside the city and they must have modern technologies. The latest technology has to be used in both chemical and physical fields.