Govt to decide number of industries in environmentally critical area: HC

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to provide environmental clearance to three organisations for setting up LPG bottling plants in Mongla industrial area near the Sundarbans, reports news agency UNB.

The bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and justice KM Kamrul Kader delivered the verdict after disposing of a rule issued in this regard.

The organisations are -– Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Songho (TMSS), Baraka Limited and Delta LPG Limited.

In its observation, the court said the government will decide the number of industries that can be set up in environmentally critical area (ECA).

It noted that the verdict will not be an obstacle to preventing setting up of new industries in ECA in future.

TMSS applied for environment clearance in 2016. Two years later, it moved to the court challenging the legality of denying it clearance.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed stood for the petitioner while attorney general Mahbubey Alam and deputy attorney general ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state at the court.

Shafique pointed out that TMSS is a non-profit organisation that wants to set up an LPG bottling plant.

Attorney general Alam argued that setting up industries near the Sundarbans will destroy the mangrove forest.