The Public Works Department and Dhaka City Corporation's demolition team has “excluded" 2.5 bighas of land beside Dhanmondl Lake from its public land recovery drive.

They claim the land, which is situated behind the WASA pump house's concrete reservoir at the north-eastern corner of the Abahani playground, was designated as a residence for department employees.

WASA and department employees have occupied the land for over 26 years and control over 40 structures that resemble a slum.

Sources said some of the men have rented rooms to outsiders and raised cattle in this "obscure" section of the posh residential area.

An official inquiry report prepared In October 1999 stated that department employees, with the help of "others" illegally built 43 structures on the 2.5 bighas of public land. The official report suggested the immediate removal of the squatters in order to complete the Dhanmondl Lake development project.

When contacted, a department sub-assistant engineer involved in the demolition drive said the land recovery' drive around Dhanmondl Lake was targeting land for a walkway.

“The employees have given up a space for the walkway, so there should not be any problem." said the engineer. He said the plot in question used to be a department work shed, but employees were living there now.

When asked why the same group of employees have lived on the public plot for so long, the engineer replied. “ it Is not their fault if they do not get transferred elsewhere."

According to V1TTI Sthapati Brindo Ltd, the designer of the Dhanmondl Lake development project, the plot in question was designated for a sitting plaza In the project's original design.

MD Iqbal Habib, an architect. said the plaza was an integral part of the project. "We nave designed the sitting plaza on this part of land to enhance the visual aspect of the landscape from the Road-32 bridge."

Other sources said officials involved in the demolition drive were taking advantage of the official order that targets “land to be recovered for completion of the walkway component of the Dhanmondl Lake development project."

“In some cases, there are rumours of alleged deals with these officials and the en-croachers under the cover of the 'walkway component', which needs eight feet of space." said an official. “Some encroachers have occupied several kathas of land but the recovery Is mysteriously restricted to about eight feet."

Meanwhile, the demolition team concentrated yesterday on several illegal shops on Sat-masjid Road which had nothing to do with the Dhanmondl Lake project The department engineer said they could only demolish three structures on Road-32. Road-25 and Road-26 and recover public land.

Project officials will visit the recovered land today and inspect the progress of the project.