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In Dhaka nearly 50 percent of the buildings allegedly violate rules of construction. Unauthorised construction is rampant here. In fact unauthorised construction is essentially an economic offence and the best way to punish such offenders is to levy penalty.
The outmoded and irrelevant regulations, lacunae in the relevant acts, lack of will to take unpleasant decisions, astronomical prices, fly by night operators and huge disparities between people's income and property value together led to such violations. If the violations are not stopped , traffic congestion, breakdown in water supply and service systems will make life in Dhaka a nightmare in perpetuity.
There is a genuine apprehension that without a real and effective threat of demolition no one would come forward to stop unauthorized constructions. Now it is time to either go for impose penalty on them or levy penalty.
A single agency should take up enforcement and be responsible. A set of comprehensive legal and administrative measures to rectify the situation by proposing amendments to some of the provisions of the existing rules.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipajhya (Rajuk) went for demolition of buildings, around the airport, which were too high than the limit. Many builders said that they had constructed additional floors taking permissions from Rajuk.
So a question arises as to whether demolition can be undertaken even after three years of completion of the buildings as there are documents that Rajuk people authorized the builders.
There are two authorities with powers in respect of buildings constructed here. One is the Rajuk, which exercises power under the ministry of works, and the other is the Dhaka City Corporation. Rajuk has the power to order demolition of unauthorised structures. The same can be done by DCC. Both these bodies should have strong monitoring over the builders. The enforcement of law should be more effective to keep the city livable.
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