Editorial
Malcontent in Residential Area
MUSHROOMING of illegal commercial centres in the capital city's posh residential areas like Banani, Gulshan, Baridhara and Uttara poignantly points at the inadequacy in our urban planning and inconsistency of our city fathers in matters related to plot allocation. We understand that there are demarcated zones in these areas for construction of business enclaves, Gulshan Circle 1 and 2 for example. Unfortunately, but quite predictably though, with more business concerns eager to have outlets in these rich neighbourhoods, more spaces were rent out for commercial use. Instead of discouraging it, RAJUK legalised use of residential plot in return for an added 'conversion fee'. Now, these neighbourhoods are dominated by business centres and civic life of the residents is largely hampered. With the situation having already gone out of control, the city development authorities have taken resort to emergency measures. Evacuation has been ordered to be completed within 15 days, failing which the allocation of plot will be nullified. There are however reasons to believe that such a step has been adopted only to pacify the anxiety and anger of the residents. On the ground, nothing would actually change once the furore over the issue dies down, many believe.
RAJUK looks like being a prisoner of its own device. They should have strictly followed the rules of exclusivity about residential areas. In the first place, it should never have gone for allocation of residential plots for commercial use; nor should it have encouraged renting out of residential buildings to business entities. There should have been a set of strict rules against it. In case of establishment of illegal business centres, the responsibility also falls on the trade licence-issuing authorities. Also, it points to the absence of any inspection mechanism. More importantly, however, the situation speaks of a lack of co-ordination between the city planners and the trade regulators.
RAJUK has earned itself a reputation for giving rise to controversy. Its dismal dealing with allocation of some 300 residential plots in Baridhara left the government's credibility bruised and battered even after the prime minister's judicious intervention and cancellation of its distribution plans. Now that it has taken a decision to rid the residential areas of illegal business centres, it should stick to the plan; for its success in this case would redeem its lost credibility.
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