Move on to enhance Dhaka greeneries
UNB
Dhaka south and north city corporations have taken a number of programmes to bring their open spaces under greenery coverage through massive plantations as the capital is gradually getting denuded of its greeneries due to unplanned development works, reports UNB.
As part of the programmes, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the North City Corporation (DNCC) will rejuvenate their existing parks and beautify footbridges and main thoroughfares with tress and flowering plants.
Besides, they are focusing on bringing most houses in the capital under rooftop gardening by encouraging people with holding tax rebate and providing logistic supports like soil, pots and fertiliser. The two corporations will also launch drives to motivate people to plant trees at their open spaces.
Though a liveable city should have 25 per cent greeneries of its total area, capital Dhaka has barely five per cent greeneries for lack of regular plantation and maintenance of the existing ones, and unplanned urbanisation, said Dr Mohhamed Shafiul Alam, a teacher of Chittagong Universitys Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences.
Green activist Mokarram Hossain, also organising secretary of Taru Pallab, a nature study organisation, said when the greeneries are gradually disappearing from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), the situation in DNCC looks appalling as most parts of its extended areas, including Mirpur and Uttara, are almost barren.
Contacted, DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq said they are aware of the situation and working out various short- and long-term plans to boost greeneries in the city.
Weve launched a drive to plant various types of trees at 2 lakh households, alongside roads and footpaths and other open spaces in the north city as part of our move to turn it into a green city within the next three years, he said.
Annisul said they will involve 1,000 volunteers to encourage the city dwellers to plant trees in their houses and even on rooftops. The volunteers will go from door to door and urge the house owners to plant trees at their open spaces.
Besides, he said, 56 footbridges will be decorated with flowering plants.
Rupai Islam, managing director of Green Dhaka, a project initiated by the DNCC, said they have taken an initiative to plant around 40 lakh saplings of various spices in Dhaka north city within the next three years.
As part of the initiative, he said, they have started distributing various species of saplings free of cost at every house in 36 wards under the DNCC to plant those at open spaces, including rooftops, balconies and courtyards. Weve been providing people with logistic supports, including soil and fertiliser.
Rupai also said they have already distributed 2 lakh saplings and will set up a booth at every ward councilors office very soon. Anybody can take saplings from there free of cost, he added.
Besides, he said, eco-buses from DNCC will travel to houses with seedlings, pesticides, fertiliser and pots to encourage people to plant different trees on roofs, balconies and open spaces around their houses and even inside their rooms, he said.
Replying to a question, Rupai said 6-8 per cent holdings in the DNCC have already brought under rooftop gardening.
DNCC chief waste management officer Capt Dipon Kumar Shaha said they have already planted many saplings of different varieties in Uttara area. Weve been trying to plant trees in open spaces under the corporation.
Besides, the DNCC has floated a tender for beautification of around 46 roads by planting different types of trees, Dipon said.
DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said they have also taken steps to improve 21 parks under the city corporation and beautify main roads with various local flowering plants.
Besides, he said, they are focusing on increasing the rooftop gardening by encouraging city dwellers for making DSCC a green city.
To motivate people, Khokon said, they have announced to give a 10-per cent holding tax rebate if anyone plants trees at their houses, flats, balconies, yards and on rooftops.
