Padma erosion: Govt approves Tk 1077 cr contract for protection

GB news 24 desk//

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a  proposal to award a contract to Bangladesh Navy-run Khulna Shipyard to protect the Zajira and Naria upazilas from river erosion at a cost of Tk 1077.58 crore.

The committee at a meeting, with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair, gave go-ahead to the proposal placed by Water Resources Ministry, according to UNB report.

Briefing newsmen the Cabinet Division additional secretary Nasima Begum said under the proposal, the Khulna Shipyard will implement project of the Water Development Board to protect 8.90 km of riverbank of Padma at Zajira and Naria upazilas of Shariatpur district.

The contract work includes 9.75 km dredging, 0.089 km end-termination and construction of 8 RCC concrete ferry terminals.

The cabinet body’s approval came at a time when thousands have been rendered homeless in the scourge of Padma erosion in Shariatpur’s two upazilas over the past three months.