The New Nation - Internet Edition

Speakers underscored the need for mainstreaming strategic environmental planning in urban development for greater Dhaka to meet the twin challenges of rapid urbanization and industrialization. They also identified institutional gaps as a major hindrance to planned development of the Dhaka city and recommended a four-set of policy actions that will eventually help keep pace with the increasing urbanization.

Strengthening of regulatory mechanisms, improving governance, expanding infrastructure development, and engaging with weak and vulnerable groups are four set of recommendations that came during a policy dialogue on Mainstreaming Strategic Environmental Planning in Urban Development for Greater Dhaka here this afternoon.

C S Karim, Advisor for the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and Adriana Damianova, South Asia Sustainable Development, Environment, World Bank participated in the inaugural session of the policy dialogue, chaired by Professor Ainun Nishat of IUCN.

A number of key policy makers from various agencies, such as: the Dhaka WASA, Dhaka City Corporation, and Department of Environment, including representatives from the Centre for Urban Studies, and law enforcing agency, participated in this policy dialogue, organized by the World Bank, The speakers highlighted the need for a set of policy directives for urban planning, with a focus on strategy for land use.

They called for critical atention to several cross-cuting sectoral policies that do not capture practical guidelines for urban planning and development To ensure compliance by polluting industries, they also recommended the development of incentives and economic instruments for enforcement of the Environmental Policy, 1992 and the Environmental Conservation Act 1995 on industrial pollution.

The potential risk of conflict of interests regarding urban planning mandate and land development responsibilities was also discussed. There is a need to reconcile the multiple administrative authorities for urban planning as well as sectoral planning in the DMDP, they observed.

It was also suggested for improving transparency of institutions by making internal planning, procurement, and other development through a mandatory disclosure of information Act Close examination of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures to make it more effective was also recommended.

Recommendations also came for acquiring updated information on six key sectoral areas, such as: land development, water supply, waste management, pollution management, transportation and industrial development This will eventually help in coordinated efforts involving sector plans and regional master plan for development and implementation of DAPs.

They also suggested revising Pouroshavas mandates for implementing plans in developing fringe areas. It was recommended to engage with vulnerable stakeholders, involving Pourashava ward commitees, to reach a consensus over critical issues.