Uncertainty looms large over DAP implementation
October 27, 2011 00:00:00
Shahiduzzaman Khan
A roundtable on 'how to develop better infrastructure to make future Dhaka liveable' in the capital this week concluded that uncertainty about implementing the detailed area plan (DAP) is pushing the capital city towards a disaster. In fact, the city is virtually in its death bed due to non-implementation of most of the urban development plans over the years.
DAP was published in the gazette in June last year after a gruelling exercise. But its implementation was immediately made subject to a review by a seven-member cabinet committee in the face of objection by real estate developers. It essentially demarcates flood free zones, water bodies and agricultural lands of the Dhaka city, many of which are already under development projects of the private companies. It reserves 21 per cent of the city land as water bodies where no development will be permitted.
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) authorities conceived several development projects in the light of DAP and sent those to the ministerial committee for approval but have not yet got any response. In the past, the capital city witnessed non-implementation of the master plan of 1930s, zonal plan of 1956 and master plan of 1959. If that is the tradition, the city might not see the implementation of DAP this time as well. Bangladesh has no lack of good plans or laws but implementation of those matters most. Lack of seriousness to deal with the problem and also the effort by the vested interests to go on with their unlawful activities without any intervention by the government are two major factors, among others, for a total mess in urban development sector.
Indeed, welfare of the people was never given priority in the growth of this city that has only 2.0 per cent open space of its area although it should be 50 per cent. Industrial and administrative relocation to divert the ever-growing population from the capital and enforcement of urban plans are seldom visible to make the capital congenial for living. The government and other stakeholders did not follow urban plans, national building code and strategic transport plan to save the dying city and make it suitable for living.
On its part, the government had repeatedly said that it would not bow down to any force while implementing the DAP of Dhaka city. The concerned minister, however, said the genuine grievances of affected stakeholders should be taken into consideration. But he maintained that the DAP would be implemented in its entirety to save the capital from environmental and drainage disaster. However, city dwellers are still waiting to see its implementation.
Proper implementation of the Building Construction Rules of 2008 is critical for making Dhaka city liveable. The scope for development under the rules of 1996 and that of 2008 is almost the same but one significant difference is that the latter suggests keeping 50 per cent open space of a big plot with vertical development of structure. However, RAJUK chairman maintained that the guidelines incorporated in the DAP were being diligently followed in cases of building new structures in the city. RAJUK held a coordination meeting recently with different city agencies and stakeholders in this regard. It says that full implementation of DAP hinges on the action plan to be provided by the inter-ministerial committee that was formed last year.
By the time DAP was approved, a significant portion of flood flow zones, canals etc., were filled up by private, and in some cases by public agencies engaged in the real estate sector. Against such a backdrop, there is an urgent need for implementing the proposed DAP to ensure a planned and environment-friendly city for the next generations. If the government fails to implement the DAP in time, the capital will not be able to stand up to the pressures of unplanned urbanisation. This might make Dhaka the worst city to live in within a decade only.
On many occasions, the RAJUK came under severe criticism, rightly or wrongly, from many circles. According to some quarters, the rules were violated both by the private developers and also the RAJUK. Various projects were alleged to have violated rules by filling up wetlands. The RAJUK allegedly did it in Jhilimili and Purbachal projects which were wetlands. But many private developers did it in almost all the plots they have developed. RAJUK in the past allowed commercial enterprises in the residential areas, prompting deterioration of living environment. An official committee formed earlier to review draft DAP witnessed that some government projects also did not conform with the provisions of the DAP.
Unless DAP is fully implemented, the capital city will face an uphill task of dealing with an increased threat of mostly man-made catastrophes. Urban planners and researchers fear the city dwellers would have to lead miserable lives in the near future as unplanned and indiscriminate nature of the growth of urbanisation will continue to emaciate the supporting environment -- destroying surrounding rivers and canals and filling up of low-lying areas.
The bold stand taken by the government in making the river Buriganga and restoring choked-up canals recently does otherwise indicate that the policy makers are committed to making Dhaka a well-planned city. But at the same time, the success of such efforts is blurred when the authorities concerned become inactive in taking proper decisions. One gets really frustrated to see how the resources are being destroyed gradually compromising the environmental and social justice issues in the name of development.
Dhaka will be the second largest city in the world in terms of population by 2015, after Tokyo with a growth of urban population at a rate of 3.1 per cent per year. By then, the projected population of the metropolis will be around 21.1 million. With this huge population, it will be a gigantic task of managing drainage and traffic situation of the city. Traffic congestion has already assumed a dreadful dimension and the metropolis, according to many concerned people, will be forced to be declared an 'abandoned' city, if the problem is not addressed on a befitting priority. szkhan@dhaka.net