Population density should match civic amenities
To implement Dhaka's detailed area plan (DAP), its population density has to be in proportion to the civic amenities, said leading urban planners at a discussion in the capital yesterday.
Size of a city and its growth rate are determined by the size of population, they said, adding, a healthy urban living depends on adequate civic service facilities -- health, education, water, drainage, open spaces and transportation.
Population density is not being effectively controlled based on the floor area ratio (FAR) and maximum ground coverage (MCG), said Salma A Shafi, vice-president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
The institute organised the discussion on “Density Planning for the DAP” on its premises.
“Dhaka is a city with the highest density but lowest liveability,” said BIP General Secretary Prof Md Akter Mahmud.
At present, population density in the revised 1,624-square-km area of Dhaka master plan is controlled primarily by FAR provision of the building construction rules that allow vertical growth of buildings leaving some open space.
But under this regulation, the density of population went up compared to the facilities, the experts said.
As a result, living quality went down, said Md Ashraful Islam, Rajuk deputy town planner and project director of DAP.
This trend should be tailored by desired population size per unit of land -- 350 people per acre or six people per Katha -- for a healthy living and sustainable economic growth, he added.
“It has to be examined how much housing is really needed in the capital and on what rationale the designated wetlands, flood flow zone and agricultural lands have been converted,” he said.
The DAP boss said they are scrutinising the survey reports for the final plan.
Pointing to the usefulness of people's participation in the planning process, he said the locals came up with the idea of connecting a canal from Ashkona with the proposed 100 feet canal along the 300 feet road for the neighbourhood's drainage solution.
BIP President Prof AKM Abul Kalam conducted the discussion.
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