Environmentalists as well as the common people have expressed grave concern over the unplanned urbanisation.

With a population of about 3.3 million in an area of some 100sq miles, Chittagong has an open space of about 200 acres of land. It has now an open area average of about 0.06 acres per 1000 people.

The first Master Plan of Chittagong Development Corporation (CDA) recommended four acres of land per 1000 people as an open area standard in 1961.

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and the CDA are responsible for managing the open spaces.

But the CDA could not ensure mandatory open spaces as it failed to control the development work of the developers, sources said. It could not develop parks, playgrounds or any other amenity due to lack of government support, they said.

On the other hand, CCC opted for use of open spaces for commercial purposes. It already put a number of open spaces into commercial use while eyeing at more such places, sources said.

Designated parks and open spaces are being rezoned or converted into commercial plots. The open spaces kept in planned residential schemes by the CDA, CCC or Housing & Settlement at Agrabad, Halishahar, Sugandha and Koiballyadham, have often been reallocated for other purposes. Little concern or guidance/ control was exercised, they said.

Among the authorities, CCC is mostly blamed for the shrinkage of open spaces here, say the sources.

To the much disappointment of the city dwellers, Jumbouree field on 10-acre of land has been subdivided leaving aside a small portion and walled up for an amusement park with admission charges. Construction of high brick walls to accommodate shops along its outer periphery even denied its neighbours' right causing visual pollution.

The open space in front of the Zia Museum (old Chittagong Circuit House) has been earmarked by the CCC for an amusement park with restricted entry.

Besides, the open site in and around the Jamiat ul Falah Mosque has been enclosed and subdivided by the CCC.

CCC is also developing a huge residential area at Khulshi levelling the hilly topography as well as constructing markets ignoring the necessity of open space.

Meanwhile, Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury while talking to this correspondent at his office on March 7 said that there was little scope for thinking about an open space in a country without having economic solvency.

"We need to achieve economic solvency first. Preserving open spaces leaving lands unused or underutilised will not help the poverty-stricken people," he said.

"Besides, We have open spaces that do not come to any use as the city dwellers hardly dare to take a stroll over there due to lack of security," he added.

Mohiuddin said owner of such spaces can not be blamed much if they wanted to lease them out for commercial purposes to help businesses flourish and contribute to the economic growth of the country.

When asked about the impact of vanishing of open spaces, town planner and Architect Zarina Hossain said absence of open spaces and high plot coverage will lead to severe environmental degradation due to loss of trees and greenery.

"Large paved surfaces will deprive city areas of the soft surfaces for water seepage resulting in flash floods due to excessive loads on the drainage channels," she said. Pollution due to dust, noise and emissions will rise causing health problems.