Don't include any private land under flood flow zone

Public representatives of Keraniganj upazila yesterday said since the authorities themselves have been destroying flood flow zones, it would be unfair to earmark land belonging to ordinary citizens as conservable flood flow zones in the upazila under the upcoming detailed area plan (DAP).

Shahin Ahmed, chairman of the upazila parishad, during a public discussion in the upazila over the DAP for the capital city covering 1,528 square kilometres of area, said “If the government can violate the master plan, why can't the ordinary citizens?”

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), custodian of the city's master plan, organised the discussion in the upazila.

Rajuk has developed the Jheelmil housing scheme on the designated flood flow zone while other government authorities have built the central jail, Pangaon inland container depot and an army camp -- all on the conservable flood flow zones in Keraniganj, alleged Shahin, the chairman of the upazila. Considering the scenario, “...no area can be earmarked as flood flow zone in Keraniganj in the upcoming DAP,” said Shakur Hossain, union parishad chairman of Jinjira, with Taranogor Union Parishad Chairman Mosharaf Hossain echoing him.

Moreover, chairmen of other union parishads demanded that all the 52 canals found in official records in the upazila need to be reclaimed for proper storm drainage management.

Only 13 of the canals can now be recognised today while the remainder of those have been either filled up or encroached upon, they complained.

Shahin, chairman of Keraniganj, said his upazila has hired a consultant, Vitti Sthapati Brindo, to prepare an action plan for 166 square kilometres of area in the upazila.

When pointed out that Rajuk has the legal mandate for such plans in the city, he said their plan would be made in accordance with Rajuk's plan.

Akhtar Hossain Chowdhury, team leader of Rajuk's consultant, tasked with revising the DAP, said, “The total area of conservable flood flow zone would surely decrease [in the next DAP] and you would get a satisfactory plan.”    

Regarding violation of designated land use under the DAP, Abul Kalam Azad, Rajuk board member for planning, said, “We alter the plan with government endorsement.”

DAP project director Ashraful Islam said the DAP is intended for planned development works.