Sangsad Bhaban: The Rajshahi Development Authority Bill, 2018 was passed in Parliament on Monday incorporating a master plan to develop the city as a planned one and a provision of imprisonment or fine for filling any water reservoir, low-land, cutting hills or hillocks and stopping water flow. 

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain moved the bill in the House which was passed by voice vote.

The original law was the Rajshahi Town Development Ordinance Authority 1976 promulgated by the martial law regime and it was translated into Bangla and updated as per earlier directives of the Supreme Court that had declared all the ordinances, promulgated during military rules, illegal, reports the UNB. 

According to the draft law, Rajshahi city will be developed under a master plan and anyone using the city land violating the master plan will have to face jail or fine or both the punishments. 

Any canal, beel, haor, river, dighi or other places declared as the floodwater flowing zones by any local administration of the government through gazette notification will be termed as a water reservoir. 

There is a provision of one year imprisonment or fine of Tk 50,000 or both for filling any water reservoir or low-land, cutting hills or hillocks and stopping water flow as such activities will be treated as crimes. 

As per draft law, the Rajshahi Development Authority will be empowered to give order to stop such activities and the mentioned punishments will be awarded to the responsible people for violating the orders.