Iron mine project still in slumber
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, Dec 13: The fate of Pirgonj Iron Mine Project in Rangpur district, about 45 Kilometers off the town is now uncertain, sources said.
According to official sources the geological experts of the then Pakistan discovered the mine in 1968 which had a huge reserve of best quality iron under bhelamari union of Pirgonj upazila.
At that time the iron mine was in an immature stage and the experts suggested the authority wait for few years to let it reach the stage of maturity.
However, after a long time for over 30 years then government of Bangladesh initiated its execution in 1999. With a programme to excavate 2000 feet beneath the surface for three months and 70 percent excavation was completed. But due to non-availability of required funds the excavation programme was stopped midway.
The project is now lying in an abandoned state due to lack of required funds and the negligence of the concerned authority, sources alleged.
According to experts, the huge reserve of high quality iron similar to the imported one could meet the domestic demand to a great extent. There are prospects of job opportunities for hundreds of unemployed youths and the country will also be able to save huge foreign exchange if the project is implemented, they added.
RANGPUR, Dec 13: The fate of Pirgonj Iron Mine Project in Rangpur district, about 45 Kilometers off the town is now uncertain, sources said.
According to official sources the geological experts of the then Pakistan discovered the mine in 1968 which had a huge reserve of best quality iron under bhelamari union of Pirgonj upazila.
At that time the iron mine was in an immature stage and the experts suggested the authority wait for few years to let it reach the stage of maturity.
However, after a long time for over 30 years then government of Bangladesh initiated its execution in 1999. With a programme to excavate 2000 feet beneath the surface for three months and 70 percent excavation was completed. But due to non-availability of required funds the excavation programme was stopped midway.
The project is now lying in an abandoned state due to lack of required funds and the negligence of the concerned authority, sources alleged.
According to experts, the huge reserve of high quality iron similar to the imported one could meet the domestic demand to a great extent. There are prospects of job opportunities for hundreds of unemployed youths and the country will also be able to save huge foreign exchange if the project is implemented, they added.