Experts have expressed fear over the implementation of public opinion on the draft of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP).
“Everyone is giving their opinion about DAP, public hearing is also being held. But there are doubts about how much these views will be reflected in the DAP,” an expert said.
On September 6, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) uploaded the draft of DAP for public review on its website. Since then, city dwellers, experts and people have been submitting different complaints over the plan.
A 120 feet road stretching from Mirpur 14 to Bhasantek was built in 2015.
According to the initial planning, there was a plan to stretch the road further to Matikata flyover and for this the authorities concerned did not allow to build any infrastructure along the way (west of Bhasantek area) of the planned road.
But lately, Rajuk has made a new draft which shows that the road will be stretched to Matikata flyover along the east of Bhasantek area where the owners of the lands have already built residential buildings as RAJUK allowed them to do so.
Anwar Hossain, one of the land owners of the project area, told Bangladesh Post, “It is not understandable why all of a sudden, RAJUK changed its draft. More than 10 residential buildings will be demolished for the construction of the road which was supposed to be stretched through the west of Bhasantek area.”
“RAJUK is taking complaints from the land owners and many of us sent applications to RAJUK to reconsider the new draft. Hope RAJUK authorities will take our problem into consideration,” he added.
Not only from Anwar Hossain, Rajuk has received nearly 5,000 such types of complaints over the draft DAP from September 6 till November 3, 2020.
About the complaints, Rajuk town planner Md Ashraful Islam told Bangladesh Post, “We have received nearly 5000 complaints over the proposed DAP until now. Most of the complaints are related to roads.”
Ashraful Islam, also the project director of the Detailed Area Plan said, “Most of the projects (95 percent) in Rajuk areas are being implemented by different government and non-government organisations. Rajuk is just coordinating these plans.”
“For example, the City Corporation has proposed to build a road. After analyzing the details, Rajuk authorities observe that 500 buildings will be demolished if the proposed road goes through the north while 200 buildings will be demolished if the road goes through the south zone. Then, we must choose the 2nd option,” he added.
“Out of all the proposals, we formulate an integrated plan so that most of the people will be benefited in exchange of less suffering,” he said, adding, “Even then, those who lose their land or infrastructure for implementing a plan, will get three times the compensation.”
Replying to a query, the DAP project director said, “We will revisit those areas where we have received complaints. Final decision will be made after inspection.”
However, experts and city dwellers raised concern over implementation of public opinion.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said, “I am skeptical about the implementation of public opinion. RAJUK chairman can formulate DAP according to his will. Because, the existing law has given him that right. So, it is necessary to reduce the power of the RAJUK chairman by amending this law.”
She also said, “It is necessary to inform what proposals have been made to protect and bring back the water bodies in Dhaka.”
General Secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) Dr Adil Mohammad Khan, told Bangladesh Post, “The footpaths and roads should be established in every possible place. The footpaths will be widened in a planned way in those places where it is applicable.”
“I hope Rajuk authority will not implement any proposal in DAP where legal land owners will be affected,” he added.