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Japanese Concept of Urban Promotion Control Area (uca) to Save Agricultural Land in Bangladesh

Sharif Mohammad Tariquzzaman*
*Planner, Urban Development Directorate, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Urban sprawling and unplanned infrastructure development are devouring productive land. Bangladesh is basically an agro based economy. In our country, about 1% of agricultural land in each year is transferred to another use. If this process continues all of our agricultural land would diminish within 100 years. This terrible situation is very crucial for an agro-based economy. In this paper, an attempt has been made to illustrate the necessity of introducing the Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) in preparing physical development plan in Bangladesh to save agricultural land. This idea is well-practiced in Japanese city planning. Unplanned development of physical infrastructure, especially development of unplanned road is the main cause of urban sprawling into valuable agricultural land. The awful encroachment into the agricultural land also may cause haphazard urbanization. This type of land use regulation may protect the unpleasant encroachment into the UCA land. Public investment in UCA for urban infrastructure development could be strictly prohibited so that unplanned development would be restricted.

Keywords: Japanese Concept, Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA), Save Agricultural Land, Bangladesh

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Management

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to analyze Japanese Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) technique in the context of their physical Planning System, to analyze agricultural land conversion situation in Bangladesh, to justify its adaptability in physical planning of Bangladesh and to formulate strategy and legal provisions to practice this type of system. This paper is prepared mainly on secondary materials.

Methodology:

Scenario of Agricultural Land Conversion in Bangladesh Dhaka city has been growing at the expense of what was dense jackfruit and mango orchards in Savar, Gulshan, Banani and Uttara areas. The expansion of Khulna is reducing the coconut plantations of Phultala and Abhayanagar. These lands were not only good for horticulture, but also for Aus, Transplanted Aman, sugarcane and all kinds of dry land crops. The rapid urban growth in Savar area, an area just lying outside the Dhaka Metropolis.

Concept of Urban Promotion Control Area in City Planning of Bangladesh In recent Planning practice, the concept of urban promotion control area is found in Bangladesh. This concept is used in four Metropolitan town Development plans. These plans were prepared within past fifteen years. The concept of Urban Promotion Control Area is used in these plans using a separate zone like agricultural zone, Flood Flow Zone, etc. outside the Urban Area Plan zone (Urban Promotion Area). In the Structure Plan of Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP), Main Flood Flow zone, Sub Flood Flow Zone, Intensive Agricultural Zone are used. In Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) area, Agricultural Conservation Area is used. In Khulna Development Authority (KDA) Structure Plan, a zone is used as unclassified zone. In all these Zones, development is restricted. But in practice the zone system is not working well. In the existing Urban Planning Laws of Bangladesh, there is no provision of urban promotion Control Area.

Preparing Development Plan: For balanced urbanization and coordinated physical development in all over the country, a countrywide National physical Plan is of utmost importance. This plan may have three phases, named National Comprehensive Development Plan, Regional Development Plan and Upazila Comprehensive Development Plan. In the National Comprehensive Development Plan sectoral physical strategy would be prepared. Definition of all types of urban centers, hierarchical order of the centers, ranking and the status of the centers, planning standards for the specific ranked centre, land use category for specific center, planning methodology for the specific center would be prepared in the National Comprehensive Development Plan. Action Area Plan for the special land uses, like Sundarbans, Hakaluki Haor etc. would be made. Nationally, strategic important infrastructures, like airport, national high way would be proposed in this plan. The Regional Development Plan for six regions (Division) would be prepared for narrowing the regional gaps and controlling the expansion of metropolitan regions. In these plans, the location of industrial zones and the universities would be defined. At the Upazila level, Upazila Comprehensive Development Plan would be prepared for whole of Upazila. In this stage, Urban Promotion Area (UPA) and Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) would be earmarked for all urban centers in the Upazila.

Source of Information: Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 98-106, ISSN 2075-9363

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Japan introduced UCA type of land use regulation in 1968 while urban sprawling and migration occurred severely. They practiced this regulation firstly for their metropolitan cities and after successful implementation, they introduced it to their secondary towns. Now Japanese cities take regular shapes and they successfully extended the urban services to all settlement centers, whether urban and rural. Now migration and urban sprawling are not considered as problems in Japan. Successful implementation of Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) and several other urban planning regulations lead to this balance city development. But in Bangladesh, migration and urban sprawling are considered as major problems that collapse our urban lives, especially in large cities. Urban sprawling reduces our valuable agricultural land. It should be stopped with proper physical planning. Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) technique may be considered as a control measure in the physical planning of urban centers in Bangladesh. Japan introduced this technique by enacting City Planning Act of 1968. The Japanese are very obedient to their laws and regulations. So it was not difficult for them to implement this simple ‘line drawing method’ in physical planning in Japan. If we want to introduce this technique in our physical planning practices in the country, we should have strong legal support and political patronization. It should be ensured that no public and as well as private investment would be made contrasting to the provision of the Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA).

Knowledge Management: Journal