Govt admits it erred in suspending feasibility study on deep seaport
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
The government Tuesday admitted its earlier decision to suspend the techno-economic feasibility study on the proposed deep seaport was not only wrong, but also showed lack of knowledge about the related contract, reports UNB.
"As per the contract, the government cannot suspend the feasibility study. It can terminate the contract," Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam told the reporters after a meeting of the Economic Affairs Committee at the Cabinet Division.
Shipping and Communication Adviser MA Matin on July 30 said, the Caretaker Government had suspended the construction of the proposed deep seaport considering huge involvement of fund.
"It will involve Tk 420 billion, and will be completed in 2055… So, the present (caretaker) government does not intend to undertake such a gigantic task considering the huge involvement of money," he said.
The government was unaware about the financial implications arising out of the termination of the feasibility study.The previous BNP-led alliance government initiated the plan in 2005 for building the deep seaport to ease the pressure on Chittagong Port in handling containers and cargoes.
Pacific Consultants International, a Japanese firm, appointed by the government last year, in its first phase survey report submitted to the Ministry of Shipping recommended Sonadia Island in Cox's Bazar as the most suitable place for setting up a deep seaport in the country.
Kutubdia Channel in the same district was mentioned as the second most suitable site in the recommendations for the multi-billion-dollar port.
Sonadia Island, located between Cox's Bazar town and Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal, is isolated from the mainland by river, and it could be connected with bridges and tunnels, and road and railway lines could also be established for cargo carrying, the report said.
The Japanese firm, appointed for conducting a techno-economic feasibility study for setting up the deep seaport in the country, was to receive Tk 140 million after completing the study within a year.
The Shipping Ministry backed Sonadia Island after Pacific Consultants recommended the island as the most suitable site.
Meanwhile, the meeting of the Economic Affairs Committee approved inclusion of Khulna Newspaper Mills in the privatisation list, and formulation of terms and condition for appointing investors cum operators for Chittagong Port. Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman will be the convener or chairman of the convening committee.
"As per the contract, the government cannot suspend the feasibility study. It can terminate the contract," Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam told the reporters after a meeting of the Economic Affairs Committee at the Cabinet Division.
Shipping and Communication Adviser MA Matin on July 30 said, the Caretaker Government had suspended the construction of the proposed deep seaport considering huge involvement of fund.
"It will involve Tk 420 billion, and will be completed in 2055… So, the present (caretaker) government does not intend to undertake such a gigantic task considering the huge involvement of money," he said.
The government was unaware about the financial implications arising out of the termination of the feasibility study.The previous BNP-led alliance government initiated the plan in 2005 for building the deep seaport to ease the pressure on Chittagong Port in handling containers and cargoes.
Pacific Consultants International, a Japanese firm, appointed by the government last year, in its first phase survey report submitted to the Ministry of Shipping recommended Sonadia Island in Cox's Bazar as the most suitable place for setting up a deep seaport in the country.
Kutubdia Channel in the same district was mentioned as the second most suitable site in the recommendations for the multi-billion-dollar port.
Sonadia Island, located between Cox's Bazar town and Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal, is isolated from the mainland by river, and it could be connected with bridges and tunnels, and road and railway lines could also be established for cargo carrying, the report said.
The Japanese firm, appointed for conducting a techno-economic feasibility study for setting up the deep seaport in the country, was to receive Tk 140 million after completing the study within a year.
The Shipping Ministry backed Sonadia Island after Pacific Consultants recommended the island as the most suitable site.
Meanwhile, the meeting of the Economic Affairs Committee approved inclusion of Khulna Newspaper Mills in the privatisation list, and formulation of terms and condition for appointing investors cum operators for Chittagong Port. Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman will be the convener or chairman of the convening committee.