Illegal housing galore in Khulna
As many as 108 illegal housing projects have allegedly emerged in Khulna and adjacent areas -- on arable land, water bodies and tidal floodplain -- without any approval from Khulna Development Authority (KDA) and Department of Environment (DoE).
This correspondent visited different areas that are under KDA's master-plan and observed that several housing projects have been developed by filling canals linked to Rupsha, Bhairab, Kazibacha, Shalta, Mayur, Atharobaki and Atai rivers.
Meanwhile, low lands have been filled with sand and brick walls have been erected.
The projects have been developed in Batiaghata, Dumuria, Rupsha and Phultala areas. Each company has multiple ongoing projects, offering plots of different sizes and promising good infrastructure, utilities and security.
However, the promises stand in utter disregard to any safety regulations, as experts suggest that some areas are considered a tidal floodplain.
Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, Khulna divisional coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), said over a hundred private housing projects have emerged in the city in the last 15-20 years.
"Most of these projects have occupied khas land, water bodies, cultivable land and tidal floodplains, which is illegal according to the environmental conservation law, 1995," he said.
However, DoE did not take any action against these projects.
Some housing companies are developing projects defying Land Development Rules 2004, which was amended in 2012 and 2015.
According to KDA, its master-plan expanded to 824 square kilometres and covers the northern border of Jashore's Noapara municipality, Katakhali of Bagerhat's Fakirhat upazila in the south, Rupsa in the east, and from Dumuria to Koiyabazar in the west. Any development within this area must have KDA's approval.
However, housing companies are selling plots and flats without KDA's permission.
Projects by Bismillah Properties in Khulna's new jail area shows a lack of space between two plots, narrow roads, no playground or school compound, as the company cited in their signboards and leaflets.
The company has already sold 470 plots under its Mahanagar projects, which have no KDA approval.
"I don't need all papers to sell plots. No housing project can abide by KDA's law, if you consider Khulna's context," said Md Saiful Islam, owner of Bismillah Properties.
However, he claimed that he has applied for project registration.
Ujan Nibash, Tanisha Residential Projects, Arafat Housing Projects, Biswas Properties, Shikder Residential Projects and Golden City have no approval as well.
And clients do not even know of this.
Jakia Sultana Dola from Satkhira's Tala bought four decimals of land from a housing project in 2020 but is yet to get a plan from KDA after repeated attempts.
"I am exhausted. I didn't know the project was illegal and lacked approval, as I only checked land documents," said Jakia.
Over 25,000 plot buyers like Jakia are now faced with multiple complications.
Prof Dilip Kumar Datta of Khulna University's environmental sciences department told this correspondent that unplanned housing in a tidal floodplain will damage its ecology.
"KDA cannot avoid responsibility when it comes to these illegal housing projects," said Prof Datta.
Tanvir Ahmed, KDA's planning officer, mentioned that according to the real estate development and management act 2010, a housing project requires registration and approval from KDA.
Moreover, each project is required to have a minimum of 10 acres of land with 40-60 feet-wide main roads and 25 feet-wide inner roads.
Residential projects should also have spaces for schools, colleges, playgrounds, community centres, markets, police stations and other civic facilities.
KDA planners have observed that 69 projects have completely disregarded these regulations.
"We already demolished structures of nine projects and issued notices for registration. Only 18 out of the 69 projects have applied for registration," said Tanvir.
"We will be taking action against these owners soon," he added.