Assess loss of wetland

Chairman of Rajdhani Unnyan Kartripkkha (Rajuk) at a meeting yesterday asked the consultants on Dhaka's detailed area plan (DAP) for a complete description of how many conservable wetlands and flood flow zones have so far been ruined.

“Delineate in details in the updated plan how many of conservable wetlands, river foreshores, flood flow zones, canals and agricultural lands in the capital are gone and how many is remaining in comparison with the existing plan,” said Md Abdur Rahman.

Rajuk organised the consultation at its Motijheel head office to gather inputs of the professional groups in the ongoing process of updating the DAP.

The Rajuk chairman also asked the consultants to compile a similar comparison of available civic amenities like playgrounds, parks and cultural centres and where those are necessary to create.

Rajuk embarked on updating the DAP in March 2015 and its project tenure ends this December.

According to an estimate of urban experts, more than 85 percent of conservable wetlands and flood zones have so far been filled up to make way for private housing and other “development”.

Fazle Reza Suman, vice-president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, said they could have made some meaningful contribution to updating the DAP had Rajuk shared all the new proposals and structural plan well ahead instead of approaching them sketchily. Dewan Shamsul Arif, representative of Institute of Architects Bangladesh, echoed him.

Md Rafiqul Islam of Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh said only a comprehensive involvement of the professionals could enrich the capital's master plan. The updated DAP must keep provisions for conserving Dhaka rivers, he stressed.

DAP project director Md Ashraful Islam, who took over nine months back, said he had been trying to involve as many stakeholders as possible in the process of updating the DAP, a crucial planning instrument for a planned Dhaka city.

With the existing DAP expiring its 15-year term in 2015 and leaving most of its recommendations on wetland and flood plain conservation unimplemented, Rajuk embarked on making yet another 20-year DAP in March 2015 for the period from 2016 to 2035.