Mainstreaming strategic environmental planning in urban dev for Dhaka urged

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Experts at a dialogue Wednesday underscored the need for mainstreaming strategic environmental planning in urban development for greater Dhaka to meet the twin challenges of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, reports UNB.
They also identified institutional gaps as a major hindrance to planned development of the Dhaka city and recommended four sets of policy actions that will eventually help keep pace with the increasing urbanisation.
Strengthening of regulatory mechanisms, improving governance, expanding infrastructure development, and engaging with weak and vulnerable groups are the four sets of recommendations that came during the policy dialogue on "Mainstreaming Strategic Environmental Planning in Urban Development for Greater Dhaka" in the city Wednesday.
Environment and Forest Advisor CS Karim Damianova, South Asia Sustainable Development, Environment, World Bank participated in the inaugural session of the policy dialogue, chaired by Professor Ainun Nishat of IUCN.
A number of key policymakers from various agencies, such as the Dhaka WASA, Dhaka City Corporation, and Department of Environment, including representatives from the Centre for Urban Studies, and law enforcing agency, participated in this policy dialogue, organised by the World Bank,
The speakers stressed the need for a set of policy directives for urban planning with a focus on strategy for land use.
To ensure compliance by polluting industries, they recommended the development of incentives and economic instruments for enforcement of the Environmental Policy 1992 and the Environmental Conservation Act 1995 on industrial pollution.
The potential risk of conflict of interests regarding urban planning mandate and land development responsibilities was also discussed at the dialogue.
There is a need to reconcile the multiple administrative authorities for urban planning as well as sectoral planning in the DMDP, they observed.
It was also suggested for improving transparency of institutions by making internal planning, procurement, and other development through a mandatory disclosure of information. Close examination of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures to make it more effective was also recommended.
Recommendations also came for acquiring updated information on six key sectoral areas, such as: land development, water supply, waste management, pollution management, transportation and industrial development.
They also suggested revising Pouroshava mandates for implementing plans in developing fringe areas.