Concern over unplanned land use

JS body says ministry doing nothing to control real estate cos

18 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

A parliamentary body yesterday expressed deep concern over the unplanned use of land across the country for constructing residential and commercial buildings. The parliamentary standing committee on planning ministry also said the respective ministry is doing nothing to control real estate companies from grabbing lands and water bodies. At a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the committee gave three months to the land ministry to submit a detailed report on its initiatives to recover government's lands, which have been grabbed over the years. "There is a rule on how to use lands. But it seems there is no law in the country in this regard, as it is not enforced," Oli Ahmed, chairman of the committee, told reporters after the meeting. "The present situation is very alarming as influential people are grabbing government's land and water bodies." "The committee, therefore, asked the land ministry to inform about its steps to recover the grabbed lands," Ahmed, also president of Liberal Democratic Party, said. "It also asked the ministry to update the law over the use of lands," he added. On allegations against real estate companies, the committee chief said there are no rules and regulations for the realtors against whom so many allegations of fraud, grabbing of lands and filling of water bodies are available. "It is imperative to regulate this sector for protecting the state's interests and safety of common people," Oli said. On handover of 70 percent share of Warid Telecom to an Indian company, it said the country has lost a huge amount of revenue as the mobile phone operator undervalued the price of its share while handing it over to the company. "The committee asked the post and telecommunication ministry to verify the matter and submit a report before its next meeting," Oli Ahmed said. It also asked the government to boost its activities to legalise Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) business soon.