Wholesale eviction is not the way: analysts
The government should follow Dhaka's Detailed Area Plan or DAP to ensure a planned city, instead of going for blind eviction of educational institutions, hospitals and shops that provide services to residential areas, city planners and architects said yesterday.
There is plot-wise demarcation in the DAP about the type of establishments to be set up, the analysts said.
The authorities should proceed in line with the DAP to avoid widespread relocation of educational institutions, healthcare and other facilities and reduce the impacts on businesses, they added.
City planners also urged the government to implement the Dhaka Structure Plan for 2016-2035 to solve the problems of commercialisation of residential areas.
“The structure plan has everything to make an inclusive and safe city, with scope for educational institutions and other necessities of residents. It should be approved soon for implementation,” said Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of Centre for Urban Studies or CUS, at a discussion on commercial establishments in Dhanmondi and Gulshan. The event was organised by the Prothom Alo at its office.
The Dhaka Structure Plan was finalised in December and eight months have passed since then, he added.
The discussion took place at a time when city developer Rajuk has taken a drive to evict commercial establishments from residential areas, sparking fears of job and business losses.
Many residents have also become anxious about their children's education and healthcare as many schools, universities and healthcare providers will also need to relocate.
It would be wise to give them time to relocate, according to Islam.
Architect Mobasher Hossain, former president of Institute of Architects, Bangladesh, said government agencies created scope for illegal commercial establishments to flourish in residential areas.
Electricity, gas and water connections were given at commercial rates, while the revenue authority collected VAT and income tax, he added.
“The government is the biggest partner in illegal activity.”
He blamed Rajuk for remaining silent when illegal establishments and structure bloomed. “Everything can be done secretly except construction work. And it cannot be done overnight,” he said, pointing at an inadequate workforce for Rajuk's failure to take action.
“But why did they not decline to accept the work of plot allocation on the grounds of inadequate workforce?” Hossain said.
“You cannot rectify 40 years of wrongdoings in a day,” he said, adding that at least five years are needed for rectification.
Architect Iqbal Habib said Rajuk framed a structure plan for Dhaka in 1997. The DAP was supposed to be framed in five years after the structure plan.
“But it took ten years to frame the DAP. And then, three more years passed for its notification.”
But Rajuk did not stop conversion of residential areas into commercial areas. Millions of taka have been invested; a symbiotic relationship has also been created because of the co-existence of people and various service providers, he added.
He suggested restructuring based on area specific action plans in light of DAP, and favoured solving the issue politically.
Abdur Rahman, Rajuk's member of development and planning, said many establishments sprouted illegally for the needs of people.
“Some have set up hotels in residential areas. It cannot be.”
It plans to follow DAP regarding schools and colleges, he added.
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