Barisal city protection work to begin soon

Army will supervise the work at field level so that it can be completed within the stipulated period.

The project was undertaken earlier and its preparation began about two months back. It got a formal start during Saturday's visit to Barisal by Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister visited the project sites and held elaborate discussions with WDB officials, the sources said.

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Under the project, a 10-kilometre embankment will be constructed from Palashpur river terminal to Dapdapia ferry terminal and along the bank of Kirtonkhola river to protect the divisional headquarter from erosion by river. Concrete blocks and geo-bags will be dumped in the areas to protect the embankments.

The project also includes construction of a bridge, regulators and sluice gates.

Work order for the project will be given soon, the officials said. Tender for the project was floated and filanised earlier, they said.

On Saturday, Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed visited erosion affected Charkawnia, Charbaria, Char Abdani, Launch Ghat, DC Ghat, Sagardi and Dapdapia Ghat near the city and its outskirts and held meetings with local people's representatives and officials.

City Mayor Mujibor Rahman Sarwar MP, Director General of the WDB Mokhlesur Rahman and other high officials were present.

The minister also reviewed the progress of implementation of the Tk 19 crore Bhola town protection project.

At the review meeting held at Bhola on the same day, the minister was informed that about 87 per cent of the work for protecting 2.7 km banks of the Meghna in the area has been completed. Concrete blocks and geo-bags have been dumped to protect the embankments.

Army is supervising the work being done by WDB.

The meeting was told that 4.91 lakh concrete blocks and 3.14 lakh geo-bags were dumped along river banks in Talukgram, Tajumuddin, Bhuiyan Kandi and Choumohani to protect those from erosion.

It was also told that the most vulnerable 8-km alternative embankment at Tajumuddin would be protected after implementation of the project.

Hafizuddin also visited the project area and asked officials to complete the project within the stipulated time. WDB Director General Mokhlesuzzaman, Chief Engineer (Southern Zone) Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Bhola Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mannan were present during the visit.