Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 00:00 hrs
♦ Reservoirs are only 2.91 percent ♦ Greening 9.12 percent ♦ Concrete covered area 80 percent
Hasan Emon
In order to get some relief from the intense fire, children are dying in the slaughterhouse of the capital – Bangladesh Daily
Panthkunj Park in the capital is owned by Dhaka South City Corporation. The organization started the development of the park in 2017. After a few days it stopped again. At present, the installation of elevated expressway ramp is underway in the park. That is why more than half of the park’s trees have been cut down. The beautification of the remaining part is being done by the City Corporation. The same is the case with Osmani Udyan. Currently the park is under development. 173 trees have been cut in the name of development of this park. At the same time, the authorities have filled a part of the reservoir. Apart from this, Anwara Park in Farmgate was once a park but now the metro rail infrastructure has been built. The park is now in crisis of existence. The same is the case with Suhrawardy Udyan. Hundreds of trees have been cut down to make walkways and food courts.
Not only the trees in the capital have been cut down, but the reservoir has also been filled. The amount of reservoirs in the city has decreased. A report published by the Capital Development Authority (Rajuk) at the beginning of this year shows that 68 ponds in the Rajuk area have been illegally encroached, including 62 in Dhaka. Among the ponds of Dhaka, there are seven ponds identified as vested property, and the remaining 55 are Khaspukur. Six ponds, three each in Narayanganj and Savar, are under illegal occupation. Houses, shops, businesses, filling stations, steel mills, markets, garages, fruit stands, mosques, temples etc. have been built by filling the ponds. These ponds or reservoirs are not only privately occupied but also filled by the government.
According to the sources of Department of Fisheries, the number of ponds in Dhaka in 1985 was about 2 thousand. As a result of rapid urbanization, it fell to 1,200 in 1989, just four years later. According to the survey data of 2007 conducted by Matsya Bhavan, till then the number of ponds has come down to 200. At present, North and South City Corporation does not have the correct number of ponds in Dhaka city. However, fire service sources say that in the 2018 survey, there are more than 100 ponds, but currently there are only 29 ponds in the capital. Apart from this, according to Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) Detail Area Plan-2022, Rajuk has 3,464 ponds in an area of 1,528 square kilometers. Of these, 205 are in central Dhaka. Between 2010 and 2019, only 3,440 acres of Dhaka’s 9,556 acres of floodplains, catchment areas and reservoirs have been lost due to individuals, businesses and other organizations.
A study conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on the situation of the last two decades has shown that the amount of water bodies and open spaces in Dhaka has decreased by two-thirds in the last 20 years. Urban planners say an ‘ideal city’ is made up of concrete, greenery and water. At least 25 percent will be green, 15 percent reservoir. Out of the remaining 60%, 40 to 50% can be concrete area, the rest will be empty space in the middle of the building. BIP’s research has revealed that in 1995, 20.57 percent of reservoirs and wetlands were under the jurisdiction of the two city corporations. In 2005 it was 8.04 percent. In 2015, it further decreased to 3.21 percent. In 2023, it reached 2.91 percent. Similarly in 1995 green area was 20.02 percent. In 2005 it was 15.87 percent. In 2015, it was 14.18 percent. 9.12 percent in 2023. Vacancy in 1995 was 13.49 percent. It has become 10.99 percent in 2023. The built up area in 1995 was 43.72 percent. In 2023 it became 76.78 percent.
The capital Dhaka is gradually turning gray with the disappearance of reservoirs and greenery. Covered with green land and reservoirs, Dhaka has become a concrete city over time. As a result, the temperature of this city is getting hotter day by day like desert. A research report has revealed that the average temperature of Dhaka has increased by at least 3-4 degrees Celsius in the last seven years. Researchers found the highest temperature in areas without trees and water bodies. Among them, the highest temperature was found in Mohakhali, Gulistan and Dhanmondi. Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) has prepared a report on the temperature of Dhaka city for 2017 and 2024. Research has shown that the average temperature in Dhaka South City area has increased by 4 degrees from 2017 to 2024. And in North City Corporation, the temperature has increased by 3 degrees. Environmentalists say that the temperature of Dhaka is gradually increasing every year due to various reasons including global climate change, unplanned urbanization, lack of air circulation, green destruction.
