Govt takes Tk 5.48b project for excavation of rivers
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 7 (BSS): A project involving Tk 5.48 billion for re-excavation of the rivers and canals is now under process to give a fillip to the country's agriculture.
The Draft Project Proposal (DPP) of the project titled "Rehabilitation of Embankment and Excavation of Rivers/ Khals" is now awaiting government approval, said Minister for Water Resources Ramesh Chandra Sen in the parliament Monday in reply to questions from lawmakers. .
Besides, another project Development of the Capital Dredging Strategy and Action Plan for the River System of Bangladesh is now under the planning stage, he said.
In the primary stage, projects are being prepared for capital dredging of the Jamuna from Shailabari to Dhaleswari mouth, Gorai, Dhaleswari, Puling, Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya rivers, the minister added.
The minister said, in the current fiscal the government would construct/repair about 356 kilometers of coastal embankments and excavate 223 kilometer of canals in the country to protect the areas from submersion and water logging.
Replying to a question from AKM Rahmatullah (Dhaka-10), he said Tk 790 million were allocated for 'food for work' programme for the purposes. Tk 484.6 million would be required for the construction/repairing of 356 kilometers of embankments while Tk 309 million would be spent for excavation of the canals.
He said the government would also continue the 'food for work' programme taken last year to maintain the navigability of the rivers to facilitate taking irrigation projects across the country for overall agricultural development.
The Draft Project Proposal (DPP) of the project titled "Rehabilitation of Embankment and Excavation of Rivers/ Khals" is now awaiting government approval, said Minister for Water Resources Ramesh Chandra Sen in the parliament Monday in reply to questions from lawmakers. .
Besides, another project Development of the Capital Dredging Strategy and Action Plan for the River System of Bangladesh is now under the planning stage, he said.
In the primary stage, projects are being prepared for capital dredging of the Jamuna from Shailabari to Dhaleswari mouth, Gorai, Dhaleswari, Puling, Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya rivers, the minister added.
The minister said, in the current fiscal the government would construct/repair about 356 kilometers of coastal embankments and excavate 223 kilometer of canals in the country to protect the areas from submersion and water logging.
Replying to a question from AKM Rahmatullah (Dhaka-10), he said Tk 790 million were allocated for 'food for work' programme for the purposes. Tk 484.6 million would be required for the construction/repairing of 356 kilometers of embankments while Tk 309 million would be spent for excavation of the canals.
He said the government would also continue the 'food for work' programme taken last year to maintain the navigability of the rivers to facilitate taking irrigation projects across the country for overall agricultural development.