DAP was altered as 'no one wanted' to comply with city plan

The government had to alter Dhaka's detailed area plan (DAP), as "no one wanted" to comply with the city plan, said the  public works secretary at a discussion in the capital yesterday.

Implementation -- and not plans merely on paper -- is important, for which people's participation is vital, said secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker at a discussion marking World Town Planning day (globally observed on November 8).

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), with support from four other organisations, organised the discussion on “Sustainable Cities and Communities” on its premises.

“If developed unplanned, the entire country will be unliveable someday, like what Dhaka city has become today,” he said. He underscored the need for coordination among 54 government authorities involved in Dhaka's development and public service delivery, and passage of the proposed law on urban and regional plan.

The DAP was designed for a liveable Dhaka, with the capital city consistently ranked lowest in global liveability ratings over the years.

A ministerial committee has so far accepted over 200 applications, and altered DAP land use, mostly to accommodate real estate developers' land business, industries and commercial development in place of conservable wetlands, agriculture and rural homesteads.

Instead of carrying out vital DAP recommendations for conservation of ecologically-vital wetlands, arable lands and reversal of incompatible commercial and industrial land use to realise a liveable Dhaka city, relevant authorities showed seriousness in accommodating interests of powerful real estate developers and coteries. The DAP was finalised and published in government gazette in mid-2010, but was immediately made subject to a "final review" by a ministerial committee.

Whatever development plan is made remains ignored, said Md Helal Uddin, chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority.

“There have been plenty of plans; how much has been implemented?” he said.

Prof Shamsul Alam, a member of General Economic Division of the Planning Commission, in a presentation on the 100-year Delta Plan, said only planned development can accelerate economic growth of a nation.

He held lack of coordination among authorities, lack of a culture of collective decision-making and town planners at local level for failure in implementation of the urban plan.

BIP vice-president Md Fazle Reza and general secretary Prof Adil Mohammed Khan also spoke at the event.