The Detailed Area Plan of Rajuk proposes to divide Dhaka into 13 ‘land use zones ‘ based on urban, residential, commercial and agricultural areas.
According to official sources, about 94,058.42 hectares of land in the entire metropolitan area has been proposed as urban area which is 61.81 percent of the total plan. Some 19,457.6 acres will be used as residential area (5.16 percent of the total plan), one lakh 23,931.09 acres (32.75 percent) will be used as common use one (mainly residential). Some 1,008.93 acres can be used as common areas (residential-commercial) (48 percent of the total plan).
Besides, 143.33 acres will be used as commercial areas which is 0. 04 percent of the total planned areas, 4,933.91 acres (1.31 per cent) as common use area (commercial main), 29,636.11 acres (6.8 per cent) as common use area (industrial main) and 13,542.75 acres as institutional areas. Some 6,465.41 acres (3.59 percent) will be used as heavy industrial areas (1.81 percent). Some 19,623.50 acres (5.15 percent) can be used as transport and communication (existing) areas, and 8,892 acres (2.03 per cent) can be used as transport and communication (proposed).
Besides, there are 1,11, 203.69 acres (29.46 percent) which have been earmarked as agricultural lands, 29 thousand 603.6 acres (7.8 percent) as reservoir, forest 5 340.92 acres (1.42 percent) and 3,933.32 acres as open space (1.04 percent of the total planned area). In all, 38264.22 acres of land will be used for these 13 types of works.
According to DAP sources, the urban areas in Dhaka city increased to 20,549 hectares in 2005. Gradually, the cultivable land declined to 6,236 hectares from 12,040 hectares. Similarly, the areas with wetlands and vegetation have decreased by 6,026 and 2,612 hectares respectively.
There was no specific policy on how to protect agricultural lands. Many countries around the world have adopted TDR or Transfer of Development Rights to protect agricultural lands or water bodies and historical installations or areas. DAP has also proposed to protect agricultural lands by following this method.
The Committee for Implementation of Detailed Area Plan (DAP), headed by the Minister of Local Government, has held several meetings recently.
While talking to UNB, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and DAP convener Md. Tajul Islam said the final decision on implementation of DAP will be taken soon in consultation with city corporations.
