Editorial
Metropolis development plan
City dweller' interest must take precedence
IT is disconcerting to note from a report appearing in this newspaper that the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for Dhaka metropolitan area is all but ready to get the government nod despite having some serious flaws. Experts in the field have expressed their reservations about the plan, and although the ministry contends that the matter has been given a public hearing, such matters deserve serious examination rather than being publicly debated, a procedure that in itself can at best be termed as perfunctory.
There are several aspects of the plan, which have been expounded upon by the experts, that raise concern, and which we suggest the government give a serious rethink.
It is a matter of concern, given the capital's flood prone character, because of the utterly shoddy way construction has taken place in Dhaka in the last two decades or so, causing a large swathe of the catchments area to be filled up by not only the land developers but also the administration, that the city's land use categories have been reclassified and the flood flow areas have been designated as residential areas. If that were so there is no denying that it will bring a windfall for the real estate developers at the expense of the city dwellers and the environment. Equally disconcerting is the fact that productive arable lands will be brought under urban development, enhancing the adverse impact of urbanisation on agriculture even further.
The capital lacks adequate open space for the people of Dhaka. While it would seem pointless to talk about open-space-to-man ratio for Dhaka city, hardly a locality in the city has room enough for the people of that area to get breathing space in the midst of the concrete jungle that Dhaka has become. In view of that, the idea of converting the area now occupied by the Dhaka Central Jail, into a housing and shopping complex, is an ill considered idea. That area should be converted into a park in the mold of the Ramna Park for the dwellers of old Dhaka.
We understand the need for a comprehensive plan for Dhaka area to arrest indiscriminate urbanisation. However, it appears that there is an undue haste in getting the plan through. No development plan can be at the expense of the environment or the comfort of the people living in the area. We suggest that the government recast its mind to the plan before giving it approval.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments