Green Model Town is a private housing project straddling the boundary between Demra and Khilgaon Thanas of Dhaka District, Bangladesh. It is being developed by Amin Mohammad Lands Development Limited (AMLDL), a subsidiary of Amin Mohammad Group.[1]
Green Model Town | |
|---|---|
  Green Model Town | |
| Coordinates: 23°43.7′N 90°27.1′E / 23.7283°N 90.4517°E | |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| Division | Dhaka Division |
| District | Dhaka District |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (Bangladesh Time) |
History
editIn 2005, the housing project, among others, was subjected to allegations of illegal business practices and land grabbing.[2] The project was one of the 77 housing development initiatives that the High Court declared illegal in June 2011.[3] However, in 2012, it received approval from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.[4][3]
In September and July of 2023, the company has been fined a total of ৳339,000 by the Dhaka South City Corporation for allowing mosquito larvae infestation to occur within the project area.[5][6]
Geography
editGreen Model Town is located at 23°43′42″N 90°27′06″E / 23.7283°N 90.4518°E. It is bounded on the south by the Matuail landfill and waste treatment plant, and on the west by Manda Khal, a canal into which the landfill discharges its effluent. Houses built on pillars encroach on the canal area, and are even built in the middle of the canal. With no access by land, the latter are reachable only by boat.[7][8]
Recreation
editAn area adjacent to a wetland near Green Model Town experiences significant overcrowding by visitors on weekends, which locals have dubbed "Mini Cox's Bazar". The area has seen the emergence of children's play areas, mini amusement parks, fairs, and restaurants, with occasional kayaking facilities available on the wetland.[9]
Controversies
editThe housing project have faced allegations of fraud and environmental damage. The project was accused of filling in canals and reservoirs, occupying land illegally, and selling plots with fake documents. Despite residents' protests and a High Court order, RAJUK, the responsible organisation, has not taken any action against the project. The residents claim to have lost their land and are facing difficulties due to the project's activities.[10] Developed illegally, leading to the destruction of wetlands, flood plains, cropland, and rural homesteads, the scheme was found to be in violation of the Private Housing Development Act 2004 and the conditions of the Detailed Area Plan.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Green Model Town". Amin Mohammad Lands Development Limited. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "45 housing companies run business illegally, grab khas land". bdnews24.com. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Mahmud, Abu Hayat (10 September 2013). "Most housing schemes gone haywire". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ Ali, Tawfique (13 June 2013). "Under scanner for 6 months". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Amin Mohammad Lands Development fined Tk2 lakh for Aedes larvae". The Business Standard. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Amin Mohammad fined Tk1.39 lakh as mosquito larvae found in project area". The Business Standard. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ Bhuyan, Md. Sufiullah Siddik (31 October 2010). "2.7 Water management". A Study on Quantity and Quality of Leachate of Matuail Sanitary Landfill (M.Sc.). Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. pp. 52–53. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ^ Ishtiaque, Asif; Mahmud, Mallik Sezan; Rafi, Mahmudul Hasan (December 2014). "Encroachment of Canals of Dhaka City, Bangladesh: An Investigative Approach". GeoScape. 8 (2). De Gruyter: 48–64. doi:10.2478/geosc-2014-0006. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ^ "ডেমরায় 'মিনি কক্সবাজার'!" ['Mini Cox's Bazar' in Demra!]. bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 9 October 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ Reza, Shamim (12 October 2017). "খাল-জলাধার ভরাট করে আমিন মোহাম্মদের আবাসন প্রকল্প" [Amin Mohammad's housing project filling up canals and reservoirs]. Sangbadbd.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 7 March 2024.
External links
edit
Further reading
edit- Alam, Helemul (21 June 2008). "Amended rules soon to stop unplanned urbanisation". The Daily Star.
- Ali, Tawfique (31 July 2012). "Illegal Housing Projects: Govt making those legal". The Daily Star.
- Mahmud, Abu Hayat (10 September 2013). "Most housing schemes gone haywire". Dhaka Tribune.
- Roy, Pinaki (23 November 2013). "Developers now own most of wetlands". The Daily Star.