Environmentalists tell conference
Dhaka will turn into an unlivable city unless a plan is immediately put in place to develop a smooth transport system and stop unplanned housing, said environmentalists yesterday at a conference in the capital.
Environmentalist groups Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) jointly organised the daylong conference on urbanisation, traffic jam and environment at Bangladesh Institute of Management.
The government is planning to develop four satellite towns around Dhaka with one lakh high-rise buildings in each to reduce the overwhelming pressure on the capital, said Abdul Mannan Khan, state minister for housing and public works.
He said a group of powerful realtors are filling up rivers, canals and wetland in and around Dhaka city for their housing projects. Thus, the city goes under water even after a moderate rainfall.
However, the minister said, the recently introduced real estate management act provides for two years imprisonment and a fine of Tk 5 lakh for placing an advertisement for illegal housing projects.
Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, a noted civil engineer and transport expert, said Dhaka might become unlivable if no measure is taken soon to implement the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and subsequent urban plans.
He said the government has more interest in high investment and infrastructure development than effective management of the available space.
The effective use of roads and circular waterways can reduce one-third of Dhaka’s prevailing traffic congestion.
Besides, commuter railway service can bring about long-term solution to transport problem, said Reza.
“Bangladesh has lost about 10 percent of its agricultural land over the past two decades due to unplanned developments,” he added.
Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, president of Bapa, said instead of Dhaka-centric developments on education, health and housing, the government must strengthen the local government institutions to keep rural people from crowding into the capital.
