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Hatirjheel Project

Illegal billboards spoil splendours

Helemul Alam
As Rajuk remains indifferent to the maintenance and security of the Hatirjheel project, illegal billboards have sprung up in the recreational neighbourhood, spoiling its beauty.
Seven months into the inauguration of the scheme, around 24 billboards have been placed in the area, mostly on private land. Only five of them were permitted by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
The project owner, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), had entrusted the integrated development of the Hatirjheel area to the Bangladesh army, which is now maintaining the scheme temporarily.
The army, said Project Officer Major Md Khijir Khan, was not authorised to take action against illegal hoardings,
but it has asked several advertisement firms to refrain from installing billboards there.
Rajuk sources said it was now planning a body to look after the security, cleanliness and traffic management in the area. It also mulls opening two police boxes in Badda and Begunbari Power Sub-station areas to ensure security.
BILLBOARDS GO UP
Visiting the area recently, this correspondent found five billboards on the pavements near Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, two near Tongi Diversion Road and around 10 more on the road nearRampura.
There are another 10 large and 15 small advertising boards on the road between Tongi Diversion Road and Gulshan link road.
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Contacted, Captain Bipon Kumar, chief waste management officer of DNCC, said they had permitted only five advertising boards near the Sonargaon hotel in March last year. These boards were placed in a way that they do not create any visual barriers to the pedestrians and motor drivers, he added.
"Unplanned installation of billboards is totally unacceptable as these not only sully the beauty of the landscape, but also trigger accidents at times," said Prof Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet). His team had studied the project’s feasibility.
If the installation of billboards goes on in this way, the beauty of the lake will be ruined, mentioned Anisur Rahman, a resident ofKunipara.
A landlord in the area, Alimuzzaman said several advertising firms had contacted him to set up bill-
boards on the roof of his four-story building. But he did not agree as he thought it would impair the beauty of his residence as well as of Hatirjheel.
Rajuk Chairman Nurul Huda said the organisation will take action against illegal billboards after the Eid-ul-Fitr.
RAJUK READIES GUIDELINE
Rajuk was preparing a guideline for all houses and structures within 300 metres of Hatirjheel to keep the area environment-friendly. The Buet, civil society members and some other green groups were helping the Rajuk prepare the plan by October, said Rajuk Chief Engineer Emdadul Islam.
"We are not approving any building plan in the area before finalising the guideline to ensure the beauty and safe environment of the project," he noted.
POLLUTED WATER
As construction work of the Dasherkandi sewage treatment plant was yet to get
underway, the water of Hatirjheel has become highly polluted and stinky.
Located five kilometres off Rampura, the treatment plant is imperative to keep Hatirjheel water clean.
Prof Mujibur of Buet said human and industrial wastes from different adjoining areas are released in the Hatirjheel-Begunbari canals through 11 outlets, making it difficult to keep the water clean.
New Eskaton resident FBG Fattah said the polluted water of Hatirjheel was spreading a bad odour and producing huge mosquitoes, putting the local residents to great inconvenience.
Asked about the treatment plant, a Wasa official said the drawing, design and feasibility study of the plant have already been completed and now they were looking for Tkl,500 crore fund for the project. The process to acquire necessary land was also underway, he added.