Implement CHT peace deal fully to ensure development: Larma

5 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Rangamati

Santu Larma

Chairman of CHT Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma yesterday again urged the government to activate the regional and hill district councils for development of the region. Stressing the need for strengthening the local government institutions, including upazila and union parishads, Larma said devolution of power is a pre-condition for development of the rural areas. Development works in hill districts are not taking place rightly due to lack of coordination between the institutions, He said while speaking at a workshop on 'Hygiene Practice-Water and Sanitation (Hysawa) Project' funded by Danish government in the conference room of Rangamati Hill District Council. Larma, also the chief of Parbatya Chattgram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), reiterated his demand for full implementation of the peace deal. After implementation of the treaty in full, the government should undertake massive development programmes in CHT region for the development of hill people, he said. He demanded that the government take up development projects and involve local institutions for their (projects) successful implementation. Larma said water and sanitation in hill areas is in sorry state and people of inaccessible areas are still ignored about hygiene. So, many children and adults are dying of water-born diseases, he added. Taka 13.5 crore Hysawa Project is being implemented in three hill districts-- Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari--for ensuring safe water and sanitation for the hill people. Chaired by Councillor of Rangamati Hill District Council (RHDC) Aungsui Prue Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of RHDC Dipak Chakrabarty, Project Director of Hysawa Project Krishna Chandra Chakma, District Coordinator Rupa Chakma and Sumet Chakma also spoke at the workshop. Charmen of upazila and union parishad, headmen, karbaries, journalists, government and NGO officials attended the workshop.