Unliveable Dhaka: Stemming the rot

Dhaka has retained the status of the seventh worst liveable city in the world, just two steps down the ranking of even war-torn Ukraine's capital of Kyiv. In the Global Liveability Index 2023 that has ranked 173 cities of the world based on 30 qualitative and quantitative factors under five categories, Dhaka shares its position with Harare of Zimbabwe. The five categories that have been taken into account are sustainability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Dhaka city has been marked liveable in many ways. It has lost its open spaces and the green cover to a great extent. The temperature has risen by nearly 3.0 degrees Celsius over the last 20 years. Water-logging is a regular phenomenon in the rainy season. Add to the list the sound pollution and air pollution. Dhaka's air quality is rated one of the worst almost on a daily basis these days.
Many areas of the city have been denuded of their green spaces. Instead, commercial projects have been implemented there without caring for the environment. An ideal city should have at least 25 per cent green space. But the Dhaka North city has only 16.17 per cent. In the Dhaka South city it is far worse. Laws have been enacted for protection of wetlands, playgrounds and parks. But it is too late. Better late than never. As reported in the media, all homeowners within the country's city corporations and municipalities will receive a 10 per cent tax rebate on rooftop gardening. That is a welcome step. It indicates how we are coming to senses now.
As far as construction work is concerned, the city contractors are least bothered about quick implementation of projects. They take too much time to complete a project, causing sufferings to the city dwellers. They leave the work half-done and after a long time they return to resume work for the remaining part. Once the project is approved, what does compel them to lengthen the project period? Why do they choose to work round the year, if the job can be done in a month or two? The answer is best known to them. In our country the project implementation pace is very slow. In the current fiscal year just over 50 per cent of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) could be implemented in the first ten months.
Another problem in the city is the traffic jam. We could address the problem to a great extent by introducing the zoning system for schools. That means the students of a particular zone must get themselves admitted to schools in that zone and the government should ensure that there are one or more good schools in every zone. It will help reduce both time and cost and, above all, the mental pressure on students. On the other hand, the traffic jams on the streets will ease to a great extent.
In Bangladesh, development is almost Dhaka-centric. So, people come to Dhaka for different purposes. They come to Dhaka for higher education, for jobs and even for healthcare. That is the cause of the high population pressure on the capital. Resultantly Dhaka bears the brunt of it. It has become a chaotic city and unliveable. Of late, different projects have been undertaken for the countryside to ensure balanced development. However, big projects like metro-rail are being implemented in the capital with the taxpayers' money. But the beneficiaries of such infrastructure are very limited and they belong to the upper class of people. This tilts the balance in favour of the rich.
Recently the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) has been adopted detailing the land use and the environmental requirements. There are other laws. But their implementation is very important. No development should be allowed at the cost of environment. There are many unscrupulous people who could not care less for the environment. They value material gains more than the environment. They do not think twice before levelling any woodland or forest areas for human habitat. They do not realise that we do not have another planet like our dear Earth to live on.

anisurexpress@yahoo.com