The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE present government, according to newspaper reports, has 'revived' a move approved in 1999 for constructing flats and apartments in partnership with private entrepreneurs on abandoned government lands in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. This is meant for providing housing facilities to government employees. The housing and public works ministry has already prepared a draft guideline for construction of flats and apartments through such partnership. The guideline, styled the 'Partnership-basis flat construction on government lands guidelines 2008', is expected to be placed before the council of advisers shortly for its seal of approval afresh though the original proposal was approved earlier by the then Awami League government. An inter-ministerial meeting attended by the officials representing the law and finance ministries and the planning division, along with others concerned, finalised the draft last month.

The government's share of the apartments to be constructed by private companies will be allotted to the aspirants among the public servants on hire-purchase basis, according to the guideline framed by the officials. The government officials will be given the apartments on permanent lease of 99 years as usual as per government provisions being followed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakhya (RAJUK) and the housing ministry in allotting houses and plots. Before finalisation, the draft was sent to concerned ministries for scrutiny. The law ministry reportedly said that the guidelines did not essentially require its vetting since they are not treated as legal documents and the executive ministry could decide on the issue, adding that the case-to-case contracts in future could be vetted by the law ministry to avoid complications, if any.

The proposed construction projects will be prepared separately for different abandoned government plots in the capital city initially and elsewhere in the country, if required. After getting the council of advisers' approval of the guideline, the partnership projects would be examined by a steering committee comprising officials from concerned ministries to be led by the housing and works secretary for implementation, according to the media reports. Official sources have been quoted as saying the government would have no monetary involvement in the partnership construction projects save its abandoned lands in the capital. Government appointed real estate development companies would have to get the buildings' designs approved by the directorate of architecture. Using the abandoned government lands in the capital would be wise for such housing purposes. The construction of the controversial NAM flats in different important places including the Manik Mia Avenue, just in front of the majestic Sangsad Bhaban, by then government was not befitting at all for maintaining the serenity of the surrounding environment. Planned use of the available spaces in the city is required for decent living. However, the use of such spaces should be in keeping with the latest master plan which awaits detailed area planning for implementation.