DHAKA: Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) is now up with a satellite town plan for Savar on the outskirts of the capital after its scheme in Gazipur stalled amid mass protests.
The plan for Savar satellite town has been submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works for approval, official sources said.
“Steps will be taken to implement Savar Satellite Town project after discussions with the public representatives of the area,” Dr. Jahurul Haque, Director (Development) of RAJUK, told banglanews24.com.bd.
Dr. Haque, however, wouldn’t speak more on the project for now. “Details will be available later,” he says.
But, RAJUK Director (Land) Syed Nazrul Islam said for sure that the project proposal lies with the ministry to get the go-ahead.
A number of officials of RAJUK apprehended that the capital-development agency might again get into public outrage for the Savar satellite town project as it happened in Gazipur over implementation of the much-debated Detailed Area Plan (DAP). The local Member of Parliament is also unaware of the project being designed for his place.
Earlier, RAJUK had to cancel the Gazipur satellite town project in the wake of public protests early this month. It had planned to acquire 4,322 acres of land for implementing the project.
According to the DAP framed by the RAJUK, farmlands and wetlands must not be destroyed. But RAJUK itself appears to have breached its own inhibition by acquiring agri-lands and wetlands. Lawmakers in Gazipur and leaders of Gazipur Satellite Town Resistance Committee pointed out such paradox.
In Gazipur’s 4,322 acres of land for the satellite town project, RAJUK had planned to acquire 52 percent agriculture land, 32 percent habitats, and two natural water bodies (khals) and 105 ponds.
If the planned Savar satellite town is set up, the DAP rules will be violated once more and thousands of people residing in the area will be affected the same way the Gazipurians were, said sources inside RAJUK.
On its website are listed four future satellite towns to be carved out in Gazipur, Savar, Keraniganj and on the eastern fringe of the capital.
The justification of the project as described by RAJUK: ‘In view of a rapid population growth and due to the speedy migration to the capital, the accommodation problem in Dhaka city is becoming acute. Under the prevailing circumstances it has become urgent to build satellite towns to tackle the challenging situation.’
Another Director of RAJUK told banglanews24.com.bd that the project would be implemented in consultation with the public representatives of the area. “RAJUK would definitely use the Gazipur experience in Savar,” he added.
Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and president of REHAB Nasrul Hamid Bipu MP told banglanews24.com.bd that RAJUK has not yet informed the standing committee about the Savar project.
Asked about his comment, Member of Parliament from Savar Talukder M Toufiq Jong Murad said RAJUK did not inform him anything on the satellite town. “We will take decision once we see the proposal. I will also talk to Nasrul Hamid Bipu and others concerned,” he said.
BDST 1400 HRS, JULY 17, 2010.
