<i>CDA drives against illegal structures go in vain</i>
Illegal occupants encroach on the banks of the river Karnaphuli just beside the entry point of Chaktai Khal (canal) on the west of Shah Amanat Bridge. The encroachment is going on at a time when Chittagong Development Authority and Chittagong City Corporation are conducting massive drive to recover the Chaktai canal.Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder
The unauthorised portions of shopping malls and commercial and residential structures that were demolished in recent months have gradually been recaptured in the port city. These are happening due to the indifference and lack of proper monitoring by the authorities concerned. The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) knocked down the unauthorised portions of the malls or buildings for not keeping parking spaces in the underground or for violating the design. The shop and building owners occupied the demolished portions of the structures in few days after the CDA eviction team had left the sites in question. Many of the owners have hanged banners that read "Construction of parking space is going on as per order of CDA" to camouflage the CDA. A shop owner at the six-storied shopping mall Munni Plaza on Bayezid Bostami Road hung a banner within few days of demolition saying 'work for parking space is on.' But in reality there was no parking space. The owner occupied the cleared space and extended his shop to that portion again. When asked, shop owner Mintu Chowdhury said he didn't recapture the parking space at all. The CDA in the posh OR Nizam Road area in July demolished all the underground structures, including departmental shop and pharmacy of nine-storied Royal Hospital & Clinic for violating original design. After few weeks, both the shop and drug store started again their businesses on the space, albeit in reduced scale. "We never violated the original design, rather we had taken all necessary permission during construction of the floors and spaces of this hospital building," said one of the building owners seeking anonymity. Some high-rise commercial buildings at GEC Intersection, Agrabad Sheikh Mujib Road and Nasirabad have also shown disregard to the CDA drive by occupying demolished portions. Traders at the ever-busy New Market and its adjoining areas, taking advantage of CDA's indifference, recaptured the open spaces and are doing their business without any problem. After present caretaker government assumed power in January, the CDA strengthened its drive against the illegal structures and the violation of CDA design. As of yet, they demolished or cleared over 1,500 structures across the city. CDA Authorisation Officer Ashraful Islam said they face difficulty in continuous monitoring and updating of their drives due to the shortage of manpower. He said the CDA won't spare the owners who have recaptured the demolished space. CDA Chairman Shah Mohammad Akhtaruddin said they will launch a fresh drive against the violators of rule soon.
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