Defying environmental laws, the Dhaka University authorities are planning to fill up a major portion of a century-old pond at Shivbari Staff Quarter on the campus to construct a multi-storied residential building for DU fourth class employees.
Experts have opined that erecting high-rises on marshy land instead of regular ground makes the structures more vulnerable to earthquakes.
As per a DU syndicate decision taken in December, 2011, the 20-storied building, to be named “Bangabandhu Tower”, will be constructed on a 5,350 square feet of land.
visiting the proposed site recently, found a large portion of the pond adjoining the site, behind the university medical centre and next to Shivbari Staff Quarter, already encroached upon by DU employees.
At least six tin-shed houses were standing on land which was once the north-west and northern part of the pond, the water of which was rendered useless with years of negligence and came to be covered with water hyacinths and aquatic plants.
Ten more houses formerly stood at the southern end of the pond but they were taken down following the construction decision, said the area's residents, adding that the fourth class employees were extensively pressing for the building.
DU Fourth Class Employees Union General Secretary Toffazzal Hossain said the building would be constructed on the pond's west end, a portion of which has already been filled up.
“Only four or five yards of the pond might be used up,” he added.
But the area's residents and these correspondents thought it would be impossible to construct a 5,350 square feet building on the available land without encroaching upon a major portion of the pond.
Mohammad Mostafa, President, Employees Welfare Association of Shivbari Staff Quarter, said the
association submitted a letter to the vice chancellor a year ago requesting the authorities not to fill up the pond for a building as the employees were cultivating fish in it.
“But the university authorities did not pay heed to our prayer,” he said.
Requesting anonymity, one association member said they were refraining from protesting against the decision on the construction site as it might take away their chances of suitable residences. Moreover, they are no longer cultivating fish there, he said.
The Environmental Conservation Law 1995 (amended in 2010) says that filling up any water body without taking prior approval from the Department of Environment is a punishable offence, subject to fine and jail.
As per the Wetland and Open Space Conservation Act, 2000, no structure can be erected by filling up wetlands, said Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon General Secretary Dr Abdul Matin.
He blamed the absence of a master plan for constructing structures on the campus.
Without piling deep into the ground, the building will not be stable on the marshy land, said architect Iqbal Habib, adding that such construction hikes costs by up to 25 to 30 percent.
DU Superintendent Engineer Mofizul Islam said, “A small portion of the pond will be used up in building the tower and we will preserve the rest of the pond with due care.”
On whether the authorities had an environment clearance certificate, he said, “It is not a pond actually but a pile of waste. It is rather harming the environment.”
Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, over phone on April 10, termed the pond “a ditch”.
“The ditch remains unused and dirty. So the university authorities are going to construct a building on it and surround it with a scenic landscape which will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the entire area,” he said.
The building would be constructed recalling the contributions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the movement of the fourth class employees in 1949, added Prof Arefin.
DU officials said the building would cost Tk 23.50 crore to build, around 50 percent of which will come from the government while the rest will be had from the university fund.
The tender for the construction had already been floated and they expect to begin work by June this year. Initially, 10 floors will be constructed for 72 families, added the officials.
