Title: Bangladesh - Enterprise Growth and Bank Modernization Project : environmental assessment
Abstract: The Enterprise Growth and Bank Modernization Project will provide support to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Bangladesh, to manage its program of privatization of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). As part of this support, the Project will assist the Government in the development, and implementation of a set of principles and procedures to manage the environmental liabilities associated with the past operation of these facilities, and the future use of these sites. In addition, the Project will help address some of the factors constraining the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and in so doing will help ensure that the development of this sector is consistent with national environmental requirements, and relevant World Bank guidelines. Accordingly, a comprehensive program of closure and privatization of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) has been initiated, led by the Privatization Commission (PC). The major environmental issues relating to the proposed privatization, or closure of the SOEs are: a) the potential environmental liabilities associated with past pollution, or the pollution stocks, and, b) the on-going environmental compliance of each SOE, or the pollution flows. Screening is the first and the simplest tier of project evaluation from the environmental viewpoint, which helps in identifying the type of projects not likely to cause environmental problems. The Department of the Environment has agreed the facility will not be subject to sanction for instances of environmental non-compliance identified in the audit report, during the agreed time-frame, and, any further non-compliance, either of a form not identified in the audit report, or beyond the agreed timeframe for achieving compliance, may be subject to sanction according to national legislation. The cleanup of an existing industrial site, requires thorough site characterization, an assessment of risk, and the analysis of remedial alternatives. This remediation scheme must minimize or eliminate the hazard to human health and the environment. There are many remediation approaches which vary with each other. In some cases removal of the pollutant is the most cost-effective and environmentally protective solution. In others, on-site treatment may be selected. In still others, containment may suffice. In all cases, the question of risk must be addressed, and the selection of remedial alternatives will be influenced by their ability to reduce risk.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-02-29
Language: en
Type: article
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