The RajdhaniUnnanyanKatripakha (RAJUK) is the official organisation responsible for ensuring that all construction within the Dhaka metropolitan region is carried out in fully conformity with prevailing governmental rules and regulations . But it has been singularly negligent in doing this job and this is manifest in large scale violation of the building code in the city. RAJUK contends that it has had insufficient manpower to do its job. But how is it that it did not take care of its manpower insufficiency over so many years ? RAJUK is now seen suddenly active in cracking down on unauthorised structure or ones without its proper approval or built without observing the building code. This has happened after the last fire incident in a Banani tower in Dhaka and discovery that its top five floors were built without its approval.
But this latest activity of RAJUK is but a waste of resources in a country that should put a premium on conserving resources in view of its resource poor conditions. The ones who have constructed structures violating the code, knowingly or unknowingly, will now suffer loss of resources. RAJUK will also have to expend resources in demolishing the structures. Thus, a double waste is involved and the same could be prevented if RAJUK authorities had been sincere and honest in their duties from the outset.
It is hard to believe that RAJUK failed to enforce adherence to the code in the past by maintaining the vigilance by its inspectors in a fairly regular basis that would lead to a halt in the construction of structures in the first place identified for not conforming to the building code. It is well known that such constructions could continue as the pecuniary interests of RAJUK officials were satisfied. Thus, RAJUK and no other, must acknowledge its own deficiencies and corruption and make a whole new start. From now on, the helmsmen of that organisation should be obliged not to leave any opportunities for a repeat of their past underperformance.
Newspaper reports were noted sometime ago that some private developers were alluring people to buy apartments and lands although these have no authorisation from RAJUK . The news is a bombshell because such properties will remain totally and forever insecure for the buyers from being potentially targets for demolition. What RAJUK should be doing is running frequent publicities in the mass media from now on so that the greatest number of people can come to know about dealing with these so called real estate companies at such high risks. RAJUK should also persuade these companies, wherever possible, to satisfy its terms and conditions and requirements of regulations so that these can be approved as legitimate housing schemes at some stage and on this hope members of the public can continue to deal with them. Otherwise, all would be lost for the hapless buyers of such properties.
According to RAJUK , there are about five thousand building structures which have been identified as highly risky in Dhaka city. Some of these were built without adhering to the national building code or duly getting plans approved by RAJUK while others were built with plans approved by RAJUK but RAJUK alleges that builders deviated from the plans. But the unsafe buildings scattered all over the city, specially the ones which their owners claim were built with the mandatory approved plan of RAJUK, give rise to many questions.
How can this body which is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that only plans for the making of safe buildings are submitted to it in the first place, ever endorse such plans ? Besides, RAJUK’s duties do not end with the acceptance of plans. It is expected to follow-up with proper inspections to ascertain whether the plans approved by it are being meticulously followed. This would be the main assurance that buildings with risky or faulty designs are not erected or their constructions can be quickly stopped or not even allowed to take-off. The same becoming a practice of RAJUK will prevent technically unsound structures to come up and conserve RAJUK’s resources as well as that of the builders if decisions are taken to demolish them on grounds of risk after construction.
The building code is there. But it seems that it has more an existence in paper because in many cases it continues to be violated. Self-serving RAJUK officials are allegedly known for their certifying questionable plans when their pecuniary interests are met. Not only the same is encouraging urban growth of the wrong variety, the lives of people are also being exposed to great risks as the case of the latest piling collapse of the multi-storied building at Tejgaon shows up so starkly.
Therefore, it is imperative to shake-up RAJUK at all levels to make that organisation a truly dedicated one. For this purpose, apart from increasing its professional and physical capacities to enable it to do its job efficiently , what is of the utmost importance is cleaning thoroughly the corruption in its different tiers. Only such a deep cleansed RAJUK can be expected to engage in its activities with real sincerity.