‘Inclusive urbanisation impossible through sector-wise allocation’

Budgetary allocations for the two city corporations of Dhaka for 2019-2020 fiscal are non-participatory and non-representative of city dwellers, claimed noted urban planners yesterday.

They said inclusive urbanisation will not be possible through such sector-based and one-dimensional allocation, where area-based allocation is totally missing.

They made the observations while speaking at a press conference on “Review of DNCC and DSCC budget for 2019-20 fiscal” at conference hall of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) in the capital.

They said the two city corporations should devise plans and start implementation from grassroots levels to ensure sustainable development.

Presenting a written statement, General Secretary of BIP Dr Adil Mohammed Khan said disparity among various areas and wards of the city are noticeable in the budgetary allocation. “Such budget could not reflect real scenario of areas-based civil service,” he claimed.

He further said an analysis of last year’s revised budget shows that the government and foreign aid projects have not been allocated as expected this year.

He urged the two city mayors to ensure good governance through ensuring public opinion in policymaking. “Accountability of ward commissioners should be ensured properly to ensure proper urbanisation,” he added.

Adil recommended adopting a ward-based development plan, creating profiles of the areas, determining existing status, formulating guideline of area-based citizen services and plan regarding infrastructural development, to use budgetary allocation properly.

In his speech, Prof Dr Akter Mahmud, vice-president of BIP, stressed on adopting a long-term development plan instead of the traditional approach.

“City corporations should know the crises in the wards, though they did not even scheme a map for a proper budgetary allocation,” he said.

BIP president Dr AKM Abdul Kalam said inclusive development does not take place, although budgetary allocation increases yearly.

On September 1, Mayor Sayeed Khokon announced a Tk 3,631.40 crore budget for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) for 2019-2020 fiscal, Tk 32.65 crore higher than last year’s, putting priority to mosquito control activities. On September 5, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam announced Tk 3,057.24 crore budget for 2019-20 fiscal.