Tk 120b grand project for dredging rivers undertaken: Sheikh Hasina

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Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Wednesday told the Jatiya Sangsad that the present government has undertaken a big plan with an estimated cost of Tk 120 billion (12,000 crore) for dredging the rivers in different parts of the country for restoring their navigability, reports BSS.
She also said that the government would dredge rivers in phases on priority basis under the plan of the Shipping Ministry for recovering major rivers as well as the dying rivers. The PM said this in reply to a query from Begum Mahfuza Mandal from women seat 22 in the House.
Sheikh Hasina said that the Planning Commission had in principle given approval to the Primary Development Project Proposal (PDPP) and the External Resources Division (ERD) is looking for donors to fund the project.
The government would dredge all prospective rivers depending on mobilisation of funds, she added.
Meanwhile, the PM also said that the National Housing Authority had undertaken a plan to construct 17,677 flats for the low and middle income people of the country.
Responding to a scripted question raised by BNP lawmaker ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizam) in the Jatiya Sangsad, she said apart from this the Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkhya has planned to build 52,512 multistoried flats for the lower and middle class people.
Besides, she said, separate projects and programmes are going on under the Land Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office for providing shelter to the landless and homeless. The PM also said that a programme for providing shelters to the landless poor people through 'Asrayan Project' has been undertaken.