Dhaka flood protection project to be revived

Tk 2,500cr scheme taken up in 1999 includes eastern bypass
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said in parliament that the government is going to revive a Tk 2,500 crore project, which was approved in 1999 to protect Dhaka from floods, expand the city and ease traffic congestion.
She said the Water Development Board, Roads and Highways Department, Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Dhaka City Corporation, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Local Government Engineering and Directorate of Forest and Environment would jointly implement the project.
The WDB would function as the lead agency in the project styled Dhaka coordinated flood control dam cum eastern bypass road multipurpose, said the premier in her scripted answer to lawmakers’ queries.
The project covers Tongi Khal in the north, Dhaka-Demra road in the south, Balu River in the east and Progoti Sarani in the west.
Sheikh Hasina, who was also the prime minister from 1996-2001, said the Executive Committee on National Economic Council on December 4, 1999 approved the project concept paper with an estimated cost of Tk 2,476 crore.
Later Tk 730.93 crore was approved in 2000 for Water Development Board’s part in the multipurpose project, she added.
“The project was suspended in 2003 after requisition of 70 hectares of land. Later, Halcrow Group Ltd of UK and its associates began an updated study on the project on July 12, 2005 and they submitted their final report on July 20, 2006,” the premier said.
On other queries, which were not discussed in the House but put on table, the premier said her government has drafted national contingency plan to tackle risks of possible earthquake.
“In light of the plan, different organisations are finalising their own contingency strategies,” she said.
The premier said the government has trained 600 volunteers in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet city to conduct rescue programmes after earthquakes. The number of the volunteers would be increased to 62,000 in the next three years.
She also described various efforts of her government including updating National Child Policy 1994.

Courtesy of The Daily Star