Bapa to challenge roadwork through wetland

. PHOTO: Syed Zakir Hossain

An environmentalist group is set to file a writ petition against the government in a couple of days in an effort to save Rampura-Hatirjheel-Begunbari, the last remaining water body in Dhaka.

"We are preparing initial papers to file the petition," said Abu Naser Khan, secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) that will move the High Court, assisted by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela).

"If we fail to protect the wetland, Dhaka will turn unliveable because of an environmental disaster," he warned.

Bapa will challenge a government plan to launch a controversial roadwork project violating the Wetland Protection Act, 2000.

Part of the project is to construct a road with a sewerage line over the wetland at a cost of Tk 547 crore from Tongi Diversion Road to Progoti Sarani, while the second part is designed to develop the roadside area under Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) as its implementing agency.

Environmental activists working for Bapa say it is a gross violation of Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan, also known as the Dhaka master plan, that has earmarked the area as a flood retention point.

The environmentalists fear the city will face unprecedented waterlogging that will swamp all roads and localities around Hatirjheel, if the area is filled up.

Many expressed concern over the project and said the area was naturally designed to retain storm water of an area covering 40 square kilometres.

Sources said the government is giving 'top priority' to constructing the road as the city lacks an east-west road network.

"The project concept paper has been sent to the Planning Commission and we look forward to getting approval soon," said DCC Chief Executive Officer Habibur Rahman.

Earlier, the Department of Environment (DoE) also opposed the project saying it will create environmental hazards in the city. The DoE refused to give clearance to it, as it said the project was not planned considering environmental aspects and environment-related laws.

The DoE asked Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) that laid out the plan to carry out a scientific survey before implementation of the project that covers 237.64 acres of low-lying areas. The government owns only 37.64 acres in the huge stretch.

Senior DoE officials said they would not give clearance to the project before a detail impact assessment was carried out for greater interest. "Although the plan can be forwarded without DoE clearance, we are firm on our stand," a DoE official said, asking not to be named.

"Any development work will have to make sure it is environment-friendly," a DoE official said.

The DoE served at least four legal notices on three real estate organisations and a private university that are filling up the wetland in signs of encroachment. Bapa called on the DCC and Rajuk to evict illegal occupiers and take an initiative to protect the wetland.

"We have sent letters to the mayor and the Rajuk chairman informing them about land-grab. We also asked them not to launch any anti-environment project," the Bapa secretary said.

"We did not want to go to court, but the government has forced us to do so. We hope the government will understand and stop the project," Khan added.

According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature or the World Conservation Union), a densely populated city like Dhaka requires 25 percent wetland for breathing space and a sustainable habitat of flora and fauna.

But Dhaka has less than 10 percent wetland that not only threatens its own liveliness but destroys the livelihood of many, especially the poor who depend on it.