Govt takes initiatives to prevent constructions on agri lands

FE REPORT
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said on Saturday that the government has taken initiatives to prevent constructions on lands that produce crops three times a year.
The Land Reform Act is set to be passed in parliament next month, he said, adding that in the proposed Act, the construction of any infrastructure on lands capable of yielding crops three times a year has been strictly prohibited.
"A city survey was carried out in the past but that raised questions. We are now conducting digital survey. After completing the digital survey, people's sufferings will ease and the menace of brokers will be diminished as people will gets services even staying at their respective homes," he said at a seminar.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) organised the seminar titled "Decentralisation of Dhaka and Sustainable Urbanisation in Bangladesh".
The minister said the government wants to reduce pressure on Dhaka.
The government was developing infrastructures, including roads, so that people outside Dhaka could come and go back to their respective destinations easily, he added.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury also said that the government is implementing many development projects throughout the country with equal importance in all regions. In the next 10 to 15 years, more metro rails and elevated expressways will be constructed that will ease traffic congestion significantly.
"Our GDP growth is hovering around 6 to 7 per cent and it will be sustained over the next decade," he expressed his hope.
He is of the view that there is a need for private sector's representation in government organisations like RAJUK or Wasa for inclusiveness.
DCCI President Barrister Md Sameer Sattar said with the rapid economic development of the country, massive urbanisation also needs to happen at a faster pace.
He said that 65 per cent of GDP comes from the urban areas, where 35 per cent of GDP comes from Dhaka alone.
"In order to mitigate huge traffic congestion and pollution, we have to ensure decentralisation. For sustainable urbanisation, decentralisation will play a pivotal role," he added.
He also suggested that the government needs to attract long-term commercial investments, especially in cities outside Dhaka.
"To ease human pressure on the capital city Dhaka, building planned satellite cities and increasing expressways can be a good solution," he mentioned.
Kazi Wasi Uddin, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, said that government is working on detailed area plan (DAP) so that businessmen have some room for their businesses as well.
He said that his ministry will consult with the NBR regarding the issue of tax deducted at source and higher tax for flat/land/property registration for reconsideration.
Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said 50 percent oxygen comes from the ocean whereas with the extensive uses of plastic we are polluting the health of our ocean.
She said, "In terms of infrastructure development, we should be careful about its quality so that environment is not hampered."
Architect Iqbal Habib, Vice President, Bangladesh Environment Movement presented the keynote paper.
He highlighted that in Bangladesh, 33 per cent people are living in cities and its annual growth is about 6 per cent.
He said that if this trend continues, by the year 2051, 55 percent of the total population will be living only in cities.
Every year, about 0.5 million people are being added to the population of Dhaka.
Due to lack of planned decentralization, human pressure on Dhaka is increasing day by day, he said.
Kazi Golam Nasir, Former Chief Architect, Department of Architecture, said, "We have to motivate our people to save our arable lands. It is alarming that we are losing our arable lands at a faster pace and if this trend continues, one day we will have no lands to cultivate."
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) called for reforms and re-organisation of RAJUK.
She said that every Division should have a long-term master plan.
She emphasized the need for saving wetlands and agricultural lands for future food security.
Mohammad Fazle Reza Sumon, President, Bangladesh Institute of Planners said that unplanned urbanisation is the bottleneck of a planned decentralization, he said. "We have many urban plans but the problem is lack of implementation," he mentioned.
Dr. Md. Shadi Uz Zaman, Managing Director Notundhora Assets Ltd., said "We need government's support to build smart cities having smart density of people."
DCCI Director Hossain A Sikder suggested relocation of industries to the specific industrial zones.
He also called for reconfiguration of transportation sector.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com