Flats for slum dwellers

ACCORDING to the PMO sources, the government has planned to rehabilitate the city’s slum-dwellers by constructing some 10,000 residential flats in Dhaka. The National Housing Authority will reportedly build the rental-based flats at Mirpur Housing Estate in Mirpur Section 11 in several phases. However good the decision may be – a few of points are extremely important for ensuring the lawful and proper rehabilitation of our slum-dwellers. First, selecting the accurate benchmarks for qualifying a slum-dweller, second – the flat rents should be well within the affordable ranges of the low-income people. Following the above two, the other reality which we believe – have all potentials to negatively impact the housing project is – if flats are somehow rented out based on political considerations.

Coupled with the housing plan, the government has also reportedly framed the National Housing Policy 2016, and has also taken initiatives for building flats for the lower and middle class people. However, the policy should be implemented the quickest since, the population growth in our cities and urban spaces have shot-up at alarming levels. Moreover, following unanticipated delay mega-project costs in Bangladesh keep increasing at disproportionate rates. So many would be particularly interested on the tendering and other money making procedures of these flats meant for the poor.

What also needs a serious reminder in this regard is that housing projects may solve the sheltering of many thousands of poor people, but what about ensuring the unimpeded smooth supply of utilities to these flats? With far too many flats and apartment complexes in too limited a space, Dhaka is frequently collapsing to supply the occupants with adequate water, electricity and gas. Moreover, by the time these 10,000 flats are built the slum population too, would increase by manifolds.

Whatever the future reality may be, the people for long have felt the absence of a low-cost efficient housing scheme in Bangladesh. The focus should be on housing at lower cost as compared to the prevailing cost levels. The prime objective is to reduce cost and make housing an eco-friendly one. Also since, natural calamities like flood and cyclone are common phenomenon in Bangladesh – so this low cost housing should also be durable and should have good living conditions for the dwellers. However, government’s construction authorities must ensure that, low cost housing is by no means, low quality housing. That said – The effective adoption of an alternative and effective urban development strategy is only possible with a basic restructuring of the social priorities and financial policies. Lastly, a firm political commitment to social development is necessary to ensure that the required resources are channelled for the benefit of the underprivileged and the community as a whole.