The government has recently taken drastic measures to streamline and bring discipline to the public services departments related to building construction. The measures have been taken to bring efficiency and strengthen and simplify services. Aimed at the boosting mainly the real estate business, the department at the centre of all the major services for approval of constructing buildings – RAJUK witnessed a major shakeup, including taking action against corrupt officials.
Due to such measures ordinary people seeking approval for building construction said that instead of being harassed to go to many departments for paper works in the government the process have been simplified to almost one-stop services. The concerned ministries and different government agencies including Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) have taken radical measures to provide all services including utilities to the people as smoothly as possible.
The ministry of housing and public works and different government agencies recently launched taking tough actions on their respective officials and staff members to free their respective administrations from corruption and irregularities. In this regard, the ministry of housing and public works has already taken necessary steps against its 92 officials on charges of various corruption and irregularities. Earlier people had to seek approval from at least 16 separate offices to get their approval for construction of buildings or other structures. Such harassment also cost the clients huge amount of bribe money before getting approval of their papers.
The harassment of traveling to so many offices has been reduced to only four phases to get approval for any construction within the metropolitan city areas. Besides, about 107 acres of state property, illegally occupied, in the city was were recovered. A number of development projects have already begun surround these recovered properties, which will be implemented soon.
Apart from this, plots are being developed for construction of flats across the country. The National Housing Authority is developing the properties for people belonging to different categories, including low and middle-income group of people and slum dwellers. In addition, the construction of the walkway, driveway and the reopening of the lake have been completed in the last one year under the water conservation and beauty enhancement project of the capital for public welfare.
Thirteen canal re-excavation and expansion works are underway in Chittagong City and 23 mega project initiatives have been taken to re-open and expand the canal. To protect the balance of the capital environment, two lakh tree plantation programs have been taken on the occasion of Mujib Barsho Celebration. So far, five thousand plantations have been completed.
In view of this Housing and Public Works Minister S M Rezaul Karim said, “The government's zero-tolerance policy against corruption has been strictly implemented at all levels of the department, agencies, including the ministry and directorates.” The online management system has been introduced by replacing the manual approach to better serve at all possible clients. This is a major improvement I would say,” he added.
It is learned that action has been taken against 62 officers of various departments, including the former chairman of Rajuk, who was responsible for approving the design of the FR tower in the accident at Banani Model Town and the defect in the construction work. With reports of abnormal expenditure on the procurement of furniture and necessary materials for building 20 instead of the approved 16 storey buildings under construction of Green City project of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the former Chief Engineer of Public Works Department has been investigated and taken action against 30 officials of various levels.
The two investigative reports have been released to the media through a press conference. Based on investigative reports in the media very transparently and legal action was taken against the accused in the shortest time. It has also brightened the image of the ministry.