UNB, Dhaka :Emphasising that he wants to see the inclusion of eight unions in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) as an opportunity not as a problem, its Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Monday said they are taking steps to build the new areas as a planned modern and beautiful city with all civic amenities.Speaking at a press conference, he also promised to present people a clean and liveable city by the year-end.Khokon also said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following the request of the two Dhaka city mayors, will soon form a coordination committee, led by her, to ensure better coordination among the 56 service-providing agencies and thus improve civic services by the city corporations. The DSCC mayor arranged the press conference at a city hotel marking the completion of his one year in office. “There’re both crisis and opportunity following the inclusion of eight unions in the Dhaka South City Corporation. But, we want to turn the crisis into an opportunity by properly utilising the new areas,” he said. Mentioning that there are nearly 1.25 crore people now in 42-sq km area of current DSCC, the mayor said it is very difficult to ensure quality services by the city corporation for such a huge population. “The size of the eight unions to be incorporated in the DSCC is about 64 sq km. So, if we can divert 40 percent population from the old city to the new areas by making it a planned one, it will help resolve the problems of the main city,” he added. “I’ve already talked to the Prime Minister, Planning Minister and Local Government Minister to build the new areas in a planned way gradually. I’ve also talked to urban experts in Singapore in this regard. It’ll take time to make it happen. But, I’m preparing to build a modern beautiful city there with all civic amenities,” the mayor added.As the lack of coordination among the different service-providing agencies is a major obstacle towards ensuring quality civic services for the city dwellers, Khokon said he along with Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor requested the Prime Minister to form a coordination committee under her leadership to overcome the problem. “She assured us of taking an initiative in this regard very soon.”
