The cabinet sub-committee to review the detailed area plan (DAP) has completed its work of reviewing the DAP, with recommendations to the government to accept seven more applications. submitted for amending the character and designs in the DAP, encompassing the Dhaka city and its suburbs, including Savar and Narayanganj, announced in June 2010. The decision was taken in the third meeting of the sub-committee, held at the housing and public works ministry conference room, with its chairman, land minister Rezaul Karim Hira, in chair.
The sub-committee, in its final meeting, considered the report of the technical committee, led by Rajdhani Unnyan Kartipakkha’s (RAJUK) member planning, which had been prepared by examining the papers of the disputed land, and physical inspection, Khondakar Showkat Hossain, the public works and housing secretary told reporters, after the meeting.
Showkat, the spokesman of the sub-committee, also said that a total of 70 applications were placed before the last meeting of the sub-committee. Of those, seven applications were submitted by the housing companies, 10 were special applications, and the rest 53 were submitted by individuals and different institutions. Of these, only one out of 10 special applications, and six out of 53 applications, from individuals and institutions, have been considered for placement before the cabinet committee on DAP review, led by Syed Ashraful Islam, the local government division (LGD) minister.
A total of 13 applications, out of 53, submitted by individuals and institutions, have been considered to keep them enlisted for the next DAP, which will be effective from 2015-35. The rest of the applications, including those from seven housing companies, have been rejected in the meeting, the secretary said.
The applications of the housing companies which were rejected, are Jamuna Builders Ltd, Probashi Palli, Bishwas Builders, Jalshiri Abason, Sikdar Real Estate, Islamic Commercial Complex, and Prattyasha Housing Ltd.
Earlier, the sub-committee, in its two meetings, had approved the applications for amending A to K block of Basundhara project of Basundhara Group, and some other housing companies.
Showkat said, the members of the technical committee visited the disputed places that came up for review, and examined their documents. They found that most of the cases had been mentioned positively, as per DAP—those were not considered for review in the meeting.
He also added that the flood flow areas, wetlands, agricultural lands, and water reservoirs were considered to be kept out of building or any infrastructure.
“The period of DAP that was announced in 2010 will end in 2014. But, it was planned to be announced for 1995-2014. But, it was announced after 15 years of its scheduled period. The government will prepare a new DAP and announce it for the next 20 years in 2015,” the secretary further said.
He added that despite completing the review process for this DAP, the aggrieved companies, institutions or persons, would be able to submit a petition for its review. Those will be considered in the next DAP.
“But, if any application merits the tag of most important, it may be considered as an emergency case. The experts of Special Works Organisation (SWO) of Bangladesh Army will visit the sites of such a petitioner. If they find it to be important for an emergency review, they will forward it to the RAJUK, which will then place it before the cabinet committee,” he added.
-With The Independent input
