The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dhaka is far from being a planned city nor is it going to be one shortly because of the failure of the planners to implement some very essential projects.

More than a decade has passed since the adoption of the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP), which includes DAP as an important competent. Its implementation depends upon area plans, which provide more detailed planning proposals for specific sub-areas. The DAP was scheduled to be completed within one year of the adoption of the DMDP but though 12 years have passed, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripkkha (RAJUK), failed to prepare the plans.

Due to lack of the area plans, the implementation of the DMDP has been delayed. This led to an unplanned urbanisation of vast areas of the 1530 square kilometer city. Due to indiscriminate and haphazard use of land and filling up of canals and water retention bodies, the natural drainage system of the areas are being lost pushing the city more to water stagnation and flooding. As a result of unplanned use of land, physical structures and civic amenities like roads, markets, educational institutions, hospitals and parks and open spaces are not developing to fulfill the needs of a modern city. No building code is followed in the construction of houses in those areas making living risky.

One of the major reasons why RAJUK failed to make area plans is their failure to involve people in the process. People are not made conscious about the benefits of planned cities. Due to lack of adequate idea about it, people sometimes resist planning of their areas out of fear for losing land.

The city of Dhaka is expanding at a rapid pace. Further unplanned expansion of the city will make it completely unlivable. Time is running fast. The authority must expedite the process of making Detailed Area Plan to facilitate the implementation of the DMDP.

Ariful Huq

Dhaka