A comprehensive approach to urban development needed

Is Dhaka a decent, peaceful city? Can anybody go for a drive which he will enjoy to his fullest? Can anybody walk through footpath freely? Are we breathing fresh air? Does the city have enough open spaces, parks or playgrounds? Questions are too many and all are different but the answer is the same and certainly negative. Today, living in Dhaka is a nightmare, to say the least. The trend and pace of urbanisation in Dhaka can be viewed as over-urbanisation which is the direct result of a combination of factors. Population growth is the primary factor in urban expansion, while rural-to-urban migration, infrastructure development, national policies, private sector forces and other socio-economic and political processes also act as co-agents. By 2015, Dhaka is expected to be one of the most densely populated mega cities with a population of more than 20 million and by 2025, what would be the situation is a matter of serious concern. The city is already struggling to cope with the exponential growth rate where resources are lacking well behind the demand for new urban residents, informal settlements and slums but the unfortunate part is that the city is still growing without much control. Overpopulation, lack of civic amenities, congestion, unplanned high-rise buildings, slums and insecurity are putting a lot of strain on the mega city Dhaka. As a consequence of the mentioned problems, the city's environment is in a sorry state while water supply and sanitation facilities are at the brink of collapse. Parks, playgrounds, open spaces and water bodies have disappeared or are in the process of disappearance. The rivers are decaying due to pollution and land-grabbing. On the one hand, the city is facing a constant threat of migration, on the other, the facilities of the city allure everyone of the country to visit Dhaka for every purpose, be it treatment or any other purpose. All ministries, departments, state and private sectors are headquartered in Dhaka and as such, problems are compounding. The city life is not as pleasant as it should be. The reason is very simple --- the rural parts have not been given due consideration and this is why, Dhaka allures the poor and destitute of the country. The result is perceptible now --- the city is becoming overpopulated and the number of floating people as well as slum dwellers is increasing at an alarming rate. The situation of the urban poor has been obscured by the bias that describes Dhaka as well-off because the affluence here. Normally, it is assumed that city dwellers have better services than villagers. This distorts reality. It is applicable only to those inhabitants -- the one-half to two-thirds - who are not living in the slums or who are not floating. In many calculations, floating people and slum dwellers are excluded. Many think that the urban residents have access to safe water, yet a cursory inspection of the poorer quarters of the city reveals that this is palpably untrue. There are few accurate statistics about life chances and health risks in the city's slums. Slum dwellers have little access to medical facilities and for this reason the infant mortality rate is also high among them. Again, many of the deaths are associated with diarroheal diseases and infections stemming from poor hygiene. Transport and energy, two essential services together, are often neglected in assessments of living condition in Dhaka. Efforts to improve the provision of energy and transport services in the city including poor urban settlements are needed. Frequent power cuts have become a feature of the city. Homes within urban slums often have neither electric light nor gas. They use wood or kerosene for cooking. If transport is considered, there is nothing for the lower middle class and the lower class. More affluent people are buying cars and making the road congested. No comprehensive plan has been taken so far, even though many predicted today's situation earlier. Dhaka, with a significant proportion of slum dwellers, is one of the world's fastest growing cities. Without a new and comprehensive approach to urban development, it could face severe crises very soon, given the huge expansion of populations. New approach should offer the opportunity to tackle the issues such as unemployment and crime, population growth and climate change as well as infrastructure development. That should also include the provision of basic services such as health, education, sanitation and water. Formulation and adoption of this comprehensive approach depend entirely on government's ability and interest to do so to improve the living condition of city dwellers. The writer can be reached at email: shafiqul0032@yahoo.com