Unplanned Urbanization Constraints the Future of Sustainable Housing

 

In a developing country like Bangladesh, the process of urbanization is moving very fast. Unplanned urbanization is developing not only in mega cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, but also in cities, ports, remote areas and their surroundings. However, this trend of growth is not the same everywhere. In large cities, the process of urbanization is more dynamic for industries, economic activities, educational facilities, government administration and entertainment. Unplanned urbanization refers to the gradual expansion of an unconnected, unplanned, unequal and haphazardly scattered city without thinking about future risks, which is not usually sustainable. This is a result of multiple different processes where efficient use of resources is not possible.

Due to unplanned urbanization, it has become difficult to find sesame space in Dhaka city. There is a mountainous problem here. Floating human slums are developing as a result of lack of housing. Resulting in an unhealthy environment. In this city, garbage, stench, etc. are daily companions. Illegal occupancies are growing at an alarming rate in an effort to accommodate the city's large population. Some unscrupulous people are occupying the shores of lakes and rivers. As a result, rivers are losing navigability, lakes are being polluted. As a result, problems like waterlogging have arisen in Dhaka city. In a very simple equation, it can be said that the more the population, the more the garbage generated by them will be and the more and more the dumping of this garbage creates an unhealthy environment. Besides, environmental pollution also takes a deadly shape. Water is being polluted as a result of dumping garbage in lakes and rivers and this is causing various water borne diseases. Unhealthy environments are most prevalent in urban slums. This unhealthy environment contains various germs that pollute the surrounding environment and make people sick.

Planned urban management is not keeping pace with the growing urbanization and rapid urbanization in the whole country including Dhaka. As a result, livelihoods and the environment are severely neglected in the formulation and implementation of infrastructure-centric development plans, including the unequal distribution of civic amenities and the formulation of extreme discriminatory policies. Considering the safety of people of all classes, professions and ages, livable and eco-friendly city is one of the major problems of Dhaka. Similarly, in rural areas, wherever they can, they are building housing by filling up the cultivable land. Even in rural areas like cities, unplanned residential areas are developing where there is not even a speck of civic amenities.

On the other hand, traffic congestion is a big problem in Dhaka city. This is an excellent example of unplanned urbanization. Lack of planning and corruption have resulted in frequent traffic jams on city roads. There are also roads dug by various government and non-government organizations every few days. This greatly reduces the life expectancy of the road. Besides, there are many difficulties for the vehicles and people moving on the road. It is especially noteworthy that road excavation is allowed during the rainy season. As a result, the difficulties of pedestrians and vehicles are much higher. The lack of planning is particularly noticeable here. As there is no underground system under the road, various government and non-government organizations have to dig the road.

Due to overcrowding and lack of space, Dhaka does not have adequate recreational facilities. With the exception of a few specific parks and recreation centers, the lack of clean environment has become evident. There is not even the slightest hint of adequate recreation in the development of children. There is no playground and no clean environment. Lack of trees and especially noticeable. Nowadays, there is a rush to build supermarkets, apartments, etc. by occupying different fields again. As a result, children are deprived of playground. Living in a corner of the house hinders their adequate mental and physical development.

A study by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) found that 73 percent of the city's scattered infrastructure is completely unplanned. Due to unplanned infrastructure, the capital Dhaka has become a city of traffic jams and waterlogging. Added to that is the stench in the water, the dilapidated condition of the roads and ghats, the manholes without lids, the piles of garbage everywhere, the housing crisis with the torment of mosquitoes and flies. Multi-storey residential and commercial buildings have been constructed without following proper land use policies.

The drainage system of the capital has become uncontrollable as a result of unscrupulous development of water bodies and low lying areas. The transport sector has been disrupted due to inadequate road system. Although the residents of the city need 25 percent of the total area of roads for smooth travel, only 8 percent is in the capital. The total area of the road here is 1,286 kilometers and 52% of these are unsuitable for motor vehicles. Due to this the traffic jam is constantly increasing.

Although about 40% of the world's population lives in cities, the number of urban dwellers in Bangladesh is comparatively less. However, the population arriving in this city is increasing day by day. The lives of these new townspeople are under threat as the population exceeds the city's capacity or capacity to provide services. The unplanned urbanization system is having all kinds of negative effects on the whole city life. At present, various environmental and infrastructural problems are being created due to unplanned urbanization.

Such as environmental pollution, lack of housing and food, transportation crisis, vehicle crisis and acute shortage of clean water. Also traffic congestion problem, excess of unusable vehicles etc. are creating various problems in the city life. The sewerage system of Dhaka city is also not satisfactory and environmental disasters are happening due to non-compliance of proper waste management rules and regulations. The strong stench of waste and toxic fumes are one of the causes of environmental pollution. Contaminating groundwater and surface water, Black smoke from mills, waste from leather industry, toxic fumes from vehicles are some of the causes of air pollution. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time.

The population of Dhaka city is more than 12 million and it is not possible to ensure adequate food, shelter and other facilities for this huge population. The only authority for the development of Dhaka city is the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK). The existing laws for planning and development are not sufficient for development. The most important thing is that the existing laws are not used properly. High-rise apartments are set up to solve housing problems.

But in fact it is seen that these housing are the cause of bad conditions like overcrowding. At present vacant space in Dhaka is very scarce. Due to the high location everywhere, the population is much more dense. This is causing complex problems like water, electricity, unhealthy environment. Due to the lack of planning, large apartment buildings, office courts, etc. are being built everywhere, resulting in various problems ranging from environmental pollution.

Unplanned urbanization is creating a crisis of safe housing for the city dwellers. In the same way, they are threatening the normal life by harming the social and surrounding environment. Therefore, it is important to ensure adequate supply of all types of urban amenities, including increasing the necessary amenities for the city dwellers. The per capita agricultural land in Bangladesh is about 0.05 hectare and the cities are often developed by acquiring agricultural land.

At present residential area is developed on 62% land of Dhaka city and of this, 25 percent land is under plan and the remaining 37 percent has unplanned housing. Besides, commercial infrastructure has been developed on 8 percent of the land and administrative infrastructure on 9 percent. Cantonments have been built on 10 percent land with open water bodies in 4 percent places and airports in 2 percent. Large administrative buildings, universities and airports have sprung up in the heart of the city without any planned master plan. These structures, which cover 12 percent of the city, are affecting the overall development.

According to one study, 34 percent of the population lives in cities. But in the last 20/25 years, urbanization has not been planned, where there are houses going up. Unplanned urbanization has taken its toll on crop lands and decreased arable land. In many cities, the situation is alarming. It is seen that due to depletion of land on the one hand production is declining, on the other hand it is creating extreme threats and challenges for future housing, which is not good news for our country at all!


Md Zillur Rahaman is a Bankerand Columnist