The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Despite passing of a decade Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) has failed to prepare the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka city, one of the major components of Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP).

The DAP is important for the urban planning and to ensure the proper use of the land of the 1530-square kilometre of Dhaka city.

The 20-year DMDP was drafted in 1995 and approved by the Government in 1997 with retrospective effect, but it could not materialise for the want of the DAP.

The non-completion of the area plan led to unplanned urbanisation in a vast area of Dhaka, said urban experts and RAJUK officials.

According to the development plan, the DAP was rescheduled to be completed within one year of the formulation of the DMDP. But the RAJUK failed to do it even after 12 years.

Non-completion of the DAP has been delaying the implementation of the DMDP, resulting in the filling up of vast low-lying areas pushing the city to flood, said urban experts, architects and planners and adding, "It is also causing unplanned urbanisation."Earlier, the RAJUK assigned four organisations - Sheltech, DDC, EPC and Gani Bangla - to prepare the DAP dividing the city into five divisions.

Then four firms were asked to prepare reports for one division each and after submitting their reports, they will make area plan of the remaining division. The firms were given two years to do the works.

Prof Nazrul Islam, urban expert and Chairman of Centre for Urban Studies, said, "The DAP was scheduled to be formulated 12 years ago, which is yet to be completed."

The authorities concerned should complete the work as soon as possible, otherwise, unplanned urbanisation will go on unabated, he said.

"Two things are very important for the implementation of the Master Plan of Dhaka city - the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC)," said Prof Nazrul.

Meanwhile, last week the Government has introduced new building construction rules 'Building Construction Rules'08,' but failed to prepare the area plan, which is very important to stop unplanned urbanisation, he said.

The Government should extend the timeframe of the development plan for another 20 to 25 years as 12 years of the 20-year plan had already passed, said the RAJUK officials.