No Rajuk plan for urban poor, lament experts

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has no plan for the urban poor, and such a situation would not allow sustainable development, opined experts at a dialogue in the capital on Sunday.
Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), and Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP) jointly organised the dialogue titled "Energy Use of the Urban Poor and Challenges in Renewable Energy Adoption: Perspectives of Dhaka Metropolis".
BARCIK Programme Director Md Kamruzzaman presented the keynote paper. He also shared the findings of a study that said 64 per cent families of Dhaka city are urban poor.
An average family spends Tk 2,389 for cooking and electricity, which means 15 per cent of its total income spent as fuel cost.
The study also noted that 8.0 per cent of households had faced accidents in the past two years, 54 per cent of which originated from wood-burning stoves. Some 22 per cent household members had a severe cough in the past six months due to cooking fumes.
Only 10 per cent of respondents in the study were familiar with the term "renewable energy". Dhaka's urban poor households lack interest in using renewable energy, Mr Zaman mentioned in his presentation.
Chairman of Centre for Urban Studies and Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Nazrul Islam was present in the programme as the chief guest. He also lamented that Rajuk has no plan for the urban poor.
"The research results should reach the government's important departments. Policies are formulated, but there is no implementation. The urban policy also focuses on the rights of the urban poor, including fuel. So it should be given importance," he added.
CAPS Chairman Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said reducing dependency on fossil fuels and increasing use of renewable energy can be an effective solution to address the fuel-related challenges.
Bangladesh Institute of Planners President Prof Adil Mohammad Khan said the slum dwellers should get formal housing.
"Their energy-related problems cannot be solved in informal housing. Planning should include the slum dwellers, and formal access should be given to solar and gas connections," he added.
Prof. Khosru Mohammad Salim of Independent University of Bangladesh said slum dwellers' energy needs can be met by setting up biogas plants in slum areas.
Dhaka North City Corporation's Chief Urban Planner Maksud Hashem said the slum dwellers' contribution to the country's economy should be studied seriously.
Senior Assistant Secretary of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) said, "We are trying to move forward, leaving the slum people behind, which is never possible. We need to think about smart technology and make it easy and familiar."

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