Editorial
Govt sector violating building code!
Set the house in order to exercise writ on others
WE are shocked to learn that since 1987 government buildings have been constructed without any formal approval from the designated authorities. Though mandatory under the Building Construction (BC) Act of 1952 and subsequent building rules, Public Works Department (PWD), the largest construction authority for the government sector, has been going ahead with massive construction activity in breach of the rules. Violation of government rules on their part, therefore, is but setting bad examples, since all the other sectors have to comply with relevant acts and codes.
It is common knowledge that many private sector builders also do not meet the construction standard laid down in the building code. The pertinent question is a moral one, if the government sector itself flouts building code, how can it enforce the same in the private sector?
The PWD constructs government buildings under the public works ministry as per the BC act, building rules and Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). Besides, within Dhaka metropolitan area, there is Town Improvement (TI) Act of 1953 that requires institutions or individuals to obtain clearance, while the BC act requires them to obtain approval from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). But the situation in the district towns seems confusing. At present KDA in Khulna, CDA in Chittagong and RDA in Rajshahi have the authority to enforce the BC act while there is none to ensure implementation in the rest 60 districts.
Rajuk has taken the move to demolish about two thousand under-construction private buildings in the city that failed to comply with the building rules and codes. While we welcome the move, we express our surprise that Rajuk has no authority to demolish or take legal action against government buildings for non-compliance. The government is clearly pursuing one-eyed policy when it comes to the compliance issue.
We understand a plethora of acts, rules and codes are there to prevent illegal, unplanned, risky and haphazard constructions. But, even a cursory look at the manner buildings are coming up everywhere will make one wonder how much the builders, both government and private, are showing respect to them. It is therefore time a high powered body is given the authority to take full stock of the buildings, both in government and private sectors, and initiate required corrective measures against them.
It has become all the more essential as we sit on an earthquake belt and we have heavy rainfall every year, both of which have the potential for triggering disaster.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments