Implementation of National Housing Policy
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Syed Ishtiaque Reza
The National Housing Policy, adopted in 1993, updated twice in 1999 and 2004, so far could not address the land and housing problems in the capital city.
Planners and developers feel that implementation of the policy will require institutions with well defined leadership roles and responsibilities. They said the policy failed to recognise property rights, distorted public interventions, and led to unworkable design standards.
Such continued growth of Dhaka can ultimately lead to negative implications for economic growth, said Dr. Toufiq M Seraj, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP). Agreeing with a recent World Bank document that termed Dhaka as "a fast growing poor megacity", he said, "we need an urbanisation policy at the earliest which will incorporate all factors including general urban growth, transports and housing problems."
It is impossible to make the city liveable, said Dr. Toufique, unless the influx of population is contained. Currently the 11th most populous city in the world, Dhaka is projected to move up to the 6th position in 2010 with 18.4 million people.
Future growth of the capital city would be difficult to sustain, said Saadat, managing director of Rupayan Housing, due to complexities already created by its fast and unplanned growth, size, topography, environmental state together with the problem of governance.
The Policy defines the role of government in the housing sector as that of facilitator or enabler rather than as a provider. But, said Saadat, government planning agency Rajuk is a developer as well as the regulator at the same time.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the average annual growth rate of urban population during the last decade was around 3.5 per cent compared to 1.5 per cent in the rural areas. At the current rate of urbanisation, about one third of the whole population is likely to move to urban areas by 2010. Dhaka will remain the main destination.
Dr. Toufiq said the dramatic growth of Dhaka has generated many inadequacies including of water-supply, sanitation and basic services, waste management, besides an increasing risk of crimes and deterioration of environment. Traditionally public spending and investments, especially in health and education, are favour Dhaka and ignores other cities and towns encouraging the high rate of migration to the capital city.
Both Dr. Toufiq and Saadat were of the opinion that the government has to address the influx of migrants as "very large population concentrations may have adverse effects on growth."
As land is scarce, Dr. Toufiq suggested imposition of high tax on owners of unutilised lands in the city. Saadat recommended development of residential zones in and around the city to reduce the pressure on the capital. He said after acquisition land should be given to private sector developers through proper bidding so that the low-income people can also afford to buy a home or a flat.
The National Housing Policy, adopted in 1993, updated twice in 1999 and 2004, so far could not address the land and housing problems in the capital city.
Planners and developers feel that implementation of the policy will require institutions with well defined leadership roles and responsibilities. They said the policy failed to recognise property rights, distorted public interventions, and led to unworkable design standards.
Such continued growth of Dhaka can ultimately lead to negative implications for economic growth, said Dr. Toufiq M Seraj, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP). Agreeing with a recent World Bank document that termed Dhaka as "a fast growing poor megacity", he said, "we need an urbanisation policy at the earliest which will incorporate all factors including general urban growth, transports and housing problems."
It is impossible to make the city liveable, said Dr. Toufique, unless the influx of population is contained. Currently the 11th most populous city in the world, Dhaka is projected to move up to the 6th position in 2010 with 18.4 million people.
Future growth of the capital city would be difficult to sustain, said Saadat, managing director of Rupayan Housing, due to complexities already created by its fast and unplanned growth, size, topography, environmental state together with the problem of governance.
The Policy defines the role of government in the housing sector as that of facilitator or enabler rather than as a provider. But, said Saadat, government planning agency Rajuk is a developer as well as the regulator at the same time.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the average annual growth rate of urban population during the last decade was around 3.5 per cent compared to 1.5 per cent in the rural areas. At the current rate of urbanisation, about one third of the whole population is likely to move to urban areas by 2010. Dhaka will remain the main destination.
Dr. Toufiq said the dramatic growth of Dhaka has generated many inadequacies including of water-supply, sanitation and basic services, waste management, besides an increasing risk of crimes and deterioration of environment. Traditionally public spending and investments, especially in health and education, are favour Dhaka and ignores other cities and towns encouraging the high rate of migration to the capital city.
Both Dr. Toufiq and Saadat were of the opinion that the government has to address the influx of migrants as "very large population concentrations may have adverse effects on growth."
As land is scarce, Dr. Toufiq suggested imposition of high tax on owners of unutilised lands in the city. Saadat recommended development of residential zones in and around the city to reduce the pressure on the capital. He said after acquisition land should be given to private sector developers through proper bidding so that the low-income people can also afford to buy a home or a flat.