RHD land recovery drive proves futile against land sharks
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Despite serious efforts by the government to reclaim grabbed lands of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) from illegal occupants across the country, the progress in many cases is very sluggish as officials concerned cannot go against influential people reportedly backed by the ruling party, reports UNB.
RHD sources said about 4,854.717 acres of lands worth 35.12 billion have so far been reclaimed through demolishing 366,770 illegal structures in nine zones of RHD from 2007 to 2014.
However, much more RHD lands are yet to be reclaimed due to impediments by different influential quarters, including 'ruling party men', the sources said.
Besides, the recently reclaimed RHD lands are also being reoccupied by grabbers in connivance with the officials working at the field level, they said.
Talking to the news agency, Communications Secretary MAN Siddique said they are focusing on drives to remove illegal structures in Dhaka and its adjoining areas in a bid to improve the traffic situation.
"Of the unauthorised structures, temporary ones are now being demolished while permanent ones will be dismantled later," he said.
Asked how long the drive will continue, he said, "We'll be able to free roads and highways from illegal occupations very soon as directives have been issued to the officials concerned of RHD all zones."
The Communications Secretary added that committees headed by all deputy commissioners have been formed to evict the illegal establishments in their respective areas across the country.
Habibul Haque, additional chief engineer of RHD Dhaka zone, said they have been able to remove 56963 illegal structures in the zone and reclaimed 1221.608 acres of lands worth Tk 16.93 billion.
Still, vast tract of RHD lands have remained occupied, he added.
Claiming that the reclaimed RHD lands are being recaptured by the grabbers, he said it is necessary to either establish barbed wire fences surround the reclaimed lands or plant trees there to save the lands from reoccupation.