Impact of private land development on the environment of the Eastern Fringe Area of Dhaka

Abstract

This stud} is an investigation into the efTects of conversion of wetland\. und seasonal agricultunll lands to urban residential uses aod its effects on the environmental condition of the local area and also the city. This study particularly focuses on the Eastern Fringe Areas (EFAs) where drastic-land u:;e changes arc taking place due 10 urban land development activities and which is assumed to have undesirable effects on the physical, social, economic conditions and natural ellvironrnenlal resources. Being located in a delta, most parts of Bangladesh. including Ohaka. experience regular inundation. The triple characteristics of Dhaka, as the capital city, mega-city and primecity, attract people from around the country, and thus increase the demand for housing und other rclated services. Dl.le to scarcity of flood-free high lands, the wetlands and low-lying areas are continnousl} being filled above flood level and used for all sorts of urban activities. Lethargy and/or rell.lelanee on the part of pnblic sector 10 manage the demands, and needs of the citizens triggered opportnnities for the Private Land Development Companies (PLDCs) to grab the prospect of reaping unlimited prol!t trom land develupment activities, A close scrutiny of the development process of the cit), reveals that most of the peripheral areas of Dhaka have developed in an unplanned manner. Despite having the Dhaka (Dacca) City Master Plan, 1959 and Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan 1995-2015 and other short-term plans, very few purls of Dhaka have been developed in a planned marlier. It is alleged thai both the pnblie and private agencies have misused and manipulated plans and regulations to levels producing an unplanned and highly polluted city by filling up wetlands and low-lying areas. Under this research, the study area and its surroundings have becn covered which are important in respect of urbun expansiun, drainage and environment. Prim"rily, these low-lying areas serve lhe purpose of important drainage and flood cuntrol and watcr retention areas. An urbani~..ation planning is, therefore, needed in order to avoid any serious drainage problems and subscquent environmental hazard. During the dry ~eason, storm waters and illegally discharged domestic and industrial wastewater drain through these lands inlo lhe Balu River by gravity. h i~ also wen that the effectiveness of drainage networks is gradually being reduced, which is ultimately creating water logging in the city. - ---- ii Meanwhile, some canals have already been filled up and occupied by the privak real estate companies. Moreover, the Local Govenuncnt continue, to construct roads under 'Food for Work Programmc' creating a lot of bloch on water lIow to the canals and channc1s. The creation of blocks is made in the EFAs by landfill activities and thc runoIT storm water flow is often ohstructed. The construction of the "'estem cmbankment triggered development frenzy <lfOllndits sUlTolmding arcas and most of western part of Dhaka have heen gradually developed. TIle adoption of plans for poldering the eastern part and a bypa~s road for Ohaka has set yct another development rush, and large and powerful dcvelopers have converted huge chunks of land to build rcsidcntial areas and townships in the easlem fringc. It is apprehended that such dcvelopment in the long run is not only contradictory to the recommendations made in the Flood Action Plan 1992 eastern fringe for Dhaka: thc massive land-filling is going to aggravate the llood situation of the locality and thc city. Thi~ stlldy intends to explore how seasonal agricultural land and wetlands are being converted into urban residential uses, the reasons for such conver:sions and the impacts of this alteration on the local environment and that of the city. Thc changing land use 01" the castern fringe area~ has been continuing from open lowlying arca to urban use dlle to devc10pment acti\'ities, particularly housing estates. The arcas arc getting more populated by residential and other sctt1cments. It i~ clearly indicated that thc agriculture lands are being reduced aml settlement areas are increasing. However. the major problems identified in the study areas are: (i) rapidly changing land uses in the EFAs (ii) water 1I0w obstruction (iii) damage of natural resources like wetlands, water resen'oirs and different species (nora and fauna) (iv) overlaps and conlIict~ in terms of 1cgal aspects in development process among different agencies (v) loopholes of existing acts/lavv-s:and (vi) weakne~ses of diffcrcnt instilUtion~ in handling the developmcnt of the fringe areas. Comprehensive Planning Guidelines are essential for comprising appropriate physical planning (land use), drainage and flood control measures, and cnvironment. It is assumcd that the EFA" "ill develop as new urban area. The proposed Emhankment along the Balu River of the ea,tem periphery of Dhaka city will be constructed with adeqlilltepumping capacity, major canals and road infrastructure as proposed in rAP 8A 1992, JICA. To implement sneh plan, the public and private sectors may lI.'oethe partnership technique to fulfill the objective. The public sector will play the role of facilitator in land acquisition, plan preparation and implementation guidelines, etc and will al~ohold the power to land distribution and regulatory control. On the other hand. the private sector may engage in developing the areas with their fund or collect fund from el~ewhere. The private sector will get some parcel of the lands to implement their hotl~ingproject according to the guidelines of plan. Analyzing the relevant actsllawslpolicies, this research hal>identified the loopholes and ha~ PLItrecommendations for revi~ion of the existing actsllaw~ and new edicts to• address the~e loopholes. The revision is essential particularly lor the "1"0\\11 Improvement Act 1953 (amended 1987). the Building Con~truetion Act 1952 (amended 1987), and the Dhaka City Corporation Ordinan~e, 1983 (modified 1992) 1987 and Pourashava Ordinance 1977. To meet environmental objectives, the mitigation plan is e~sential along with the proposal of new urban development. Such mea<mresarc needed for protecting natural canal8,preserving wetlands and open water bodie8 etc. This re~earch al~o looks into urban management i,sue of the public agencies and identified the problems (like overlaps and conflicts in activities) and the appropriate proposal~ arc addressed through ~trengthening capacity building of the agencies/organizations; and also make suggestion~for integration among the agencie~.