Q.1. what is Land Zoning?

Ans. Land Zoning is the demarcation of geographic areas with specific combinations of properties or features used as per criteria only. The kind of features which are chosen and the interpretation of their different combinations depend on the purpose of the zoning exercise. Zoning is most often used for research and for planning purposes.

Q.2.Why Land Zoning is necessary?

Ans. Competition for diverse uses of land resources, the tremendous increase of population, natural and man-made hazards, economic opportunities and ecological hot spots call for distinctive coastal zone management arrangements through the development of land use zoning. The Government of Bangladesh realizes this need and formulates different policies, strategies (including the interim strategy for poverty reduction) and planning documents making special reference to different coastal issues and its integrated management.

Q.3. Who will implement this project?

The Ministry of Land will implement this programme through a "study of detailed coastal land zoning including two pilot districts of plan land" project.

Q.4. How many major areas have to identify through this study?

The following major areas have to be identified:
* Shrimp (Brackish water) Zone
* Shrimp (Sweet water) Zone
* Salt- Shrimp Zone
* Forest Zone
* Mangrove Zone
* Urban and Commercial Zone
* (Industrial, Port, EPZs and Ship breaking Yards)
* Tourism Zone
* Agriculture Zone

Q.5. What will be the outcomes of the study?

* Land use based upazilla wise zoning maps for agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, rural and urban settlement, industrial and commercial areas and other land uses for obtaining optimum economic benefits.
* Development of land resources database and zoning information system
* A detailed land zoning report covering all features and attributes of the project area
* Reports on community based information, social and environmental impact assessment
* Comprehensive reports on char land and ecological critical areas of the project.
* Draft report on Land Zoning Law and Village Improvement Act.

Q. 6. How many districts included in this study project?

At present, 19 coastal districts and two districts of plain land is included in this study ( 51,024 Sq.km).

Q.7. Can land zoning affect property rights?

Yes, the regulation of land can somehow affect the property rights as to constitute the 'taking' of property. Land zoning has to ensure that the classification of land under the zoning law does not impact on private property rights in such burdensome way that it would otherwise violate the constitutional guarantee of such rights.

Q.8. How does the principle of equal protection apply to land zoning?

The principle of equal protection claims assert that a land use classification or decision should not treat one parcel, or a few parcels of land, differently than similarly situated parcel(s) with no apparent justification for treating them differently.

Q.9. What is the primary purpose of the Land Zoning Law?

The primary purpose of the Zoning law or Village Improvement Act is the enforcement of the land zoning done. Thus the law would also depend on how a parcel or parcels of land is categorized in the zoning map as, say for example, permitted, conditional or accessory etc. uses for a particular zone labeled with specific typology. It is presumed that the law would have to follow even the Zoning codes and terminology used in preparing the Zoning map. This presupposes a prior knowledge of the details of the Zoning map for drafting the corresponding Zoning law.

Q.10. How would people know about zoning restrictions?

The entire set of related zoning laws and regulations have to be scanned and made easy for people in general, and the enforcement authority in particular, to follow for avoiding future litigation or reversal of executive decision by courts of law.

Q.11. How would the zoning law cope with changing demographic scenario?

The rapidly increasing population of the country, coupled with globalization fallout, poses a serious challenge to whatever land Zoning would be done. So, the study has to come out with institutional arrangements for constant monitoring through strategic (as against operational) management of the land zoning and the law thereof.

Q.12. How would the process of consultation for the zoning law and the VIA be conducted?

* stakeholder consultation held conjointly with that of the land Zoning.
* Contracting out social survey of public opinion on legal issues like enforcement, penalty, violation etc.
* Presenting the drafts to workshops in six Divisional headquarters before presenting them to a National seminar/workshop.
* Focus group discussion with particularly the professionals and persons with special knowledge on the subject.
* Seek opinion, information through internet.
* Reality check in South, South East Asia and Pacific Rim countries with similar laws.
* Focus on confidence building measures for enforcement of the law.

Q.13. Who would be responsible for enforcing the laws?

The zoning laws would be enacted centrally by the Jatiyo Sangsad, but their enforcement should be the responsibility of the appropriate Local Government Institution like the Pourasava, the Zila, the Upazila and the Union Parishad.

Q.14. Who is the member of Technical Support Group (TSG)?

A Technical Support Group (TSG) with representatives from the following government and non-government organizations was formed to contribute and participate in formulating the project activities and ensure successful implementation.

* Project Director/ Team Leader, Costal Land Zoning Project;
* Bangladesh Water Development Board(BWDB);
* Local Government Engineering Department (LGED);
* Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO);
* Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC);
* Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI);
* Department of Environment (DoE);
* Department of Fisheries (DoF);
* Forest Department (FD);
* Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE);
* Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO);
* Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS);
* Center for Natural Resources Studies(CNRS);