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Major infrastructure work still remains incomplete at Purbachal New Town Project though Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) claims that the allottees will be able to construct houses on their plots by 2020.
Rajuk has claimed that they have completed 95 per cent land development work but in reality, it was only sand-filled in 60 per cent areas.
Experts said Rajuk is going to miss the extended deadline of 2020. The Gazipur portion remains undeveloped till now. Some 1,500 acres of land out of total 6,627 are in Kaliganj thana of Gazipur.
It was mentioned in the annual report 2017-18 that 15,000 residential plots out of a total of 25,016 had been handed over to owners.
But project director Ujjal Mallick said on Wednesday that 16,000 allottees took possession of plots. Some 115 plot owners applied for plan pass of their buildings while 90 plans got approval.
"About 95 per cent of land development mainly sand filling work has been completed. We could not develop 300 acres of land out of total 6,227 as there are still houses and other properties," said Mr Mallick.
About completion of infrastructures like roads, utility connections and water supply, he said 320-kilometre road of the 600-kilometre network will be completed by June 2020.
He also claimed that 340 million litres of water per day (mld) will be supplied to that area in four phases. Of the total, first 40 mld will be supplied by December 2020 while second 100 mld, third 100 mld and fourth 80 mld within four years.
But Mr Mallick did not mention who will supply water as DWASA is not willing to supply water or develop the sewerage system at Purbachal which is out of its jurisdiction. He only mentioned that the contract has already been signed.
It was mentioned in the annual report that Rajuk has taken initiative to supply water and develop the sewerage system under public-private partnership arrangements.
The PPP Authority has appointed IFC to act as lead transaction advisor for 'Development of Water Distribution and Supply Facilities at Purbachal New Town through PPP.
A technical proposal was submitted in June 2018. The contract is expected to be completed by November this year, the report said.
Rajuk started carrying out a feasibility study on Purbachal New Town Project in 1990 and got approval in 1995. The implementation period was 1995-2010 at a cost of over Tk 33.11 billion. The DPP was revised and extended to 2020 at revised cost of over Tk 77.82 billion.
When asked about affected people in the project area and overall compensation and resettlement process, Mr Mallick said he was unaware of the number of total people who were affected or displaced.
Rajuk gave compensation amounting to Tk 5.42 billion for land acquisition, said Mr Mallick.
He also said they had provided plots to 5,000 inhabitants who were originally living in the project area and another 1,000 plots to some affected people who had land or other properties.
"We still have 1,900 applications for plots pending to be distributed among the affected community," he said.
Mr Mallick said there will be an iconic tower along with a business district in Purbachal. The iconic tower will have three towers-- 52-storey language tower, 71-storey liberation tower and 96-storey legacy tower. Some 100 acres of land has been allotted for the tower.
Regarding Rajuk's claim to make Purbachal fit for habitation by 2020, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) general secretary Adil Mohammed Khan said construction of houses by some people does not mean the area is suitable for living.
A community is required for permanent living in any area. Purbachal has little chance to be developed as residential block by 2020, he added.
"Rajuk could not implement the Purbachal project at an expected pace that could have met the housing demand of the country having impact on the market. This has caused two types of losses-sufferings and financial loss to plot owners and increase in public expenditure," he said.