Patuakhali town protection project approved finally
The Planning Commission has finally approved the Patuakhali town protection project, 12 years after it was submitted. The Tk 17 crore project was approved on August 14 following submission of a survey report. Documents on the decision reached Patuakhali yesterday, sources said. Approval of the project by the government was a talk of the town. The project titled Patuakhali Town Protection Embankment-cum-Drainage Project was taken up in 1996 to redress sufferings of townspeople from inundation during almost every full moon and mild tidal surge. The new project is designed to protect the town from flash flood, erosion and remove stagnant water. It includes construction of 4.20 kilometers flood control embankment, eight drains to remove water, eight sluice gates, 38 outlets, one kilometre wall and installation of four power pumps. Water Development Board (WDB) sources said, a survey team from Planning Commission visited Patuakhali on July 20 this year to make a survey. The team led by Hamidur Rahman, joint chief of Planning Commission, visited different points of the proposed project and exchanged views with local people including journalist and district officials. Hamidur Rahman submitted his report to the Commission in the first week of this month. Another team from water resources ministry visited Patuakhali in January last year to verify importance of the project. It also submitted a report recommending immediate step to implement a flood control project. WDB executive engineer Zahir Udddin Ahmed told this correspondent that work on the project would start from the current 2007-2008 fiscal year, considering its impotance. Earlier, a consulting firm completed a feasibility study of the project last year and submitted its report, saying such a project is vital for the costal town. In 1960s, a project was undertaken to protect Patuakhali town and coastal upazilas of Baufal, Dashmina, Galachipa, Kalapara and Mirzagonj from flood and saline water. Later the town was excluded from the project. Patuakhali town is surrounded by Lawkathi river in the north and Lohalia river in the east. Water from the rivers roll into the town whenever they swell, inundating two-thirds area by 2 to 5 feet water.
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