Home ›› 29 Aug 2021 ›› Back
The Planning Commission has expressed its skepticism over a Tk 549.36 crore project of the Ministry of Water Resources aimed at protecting Hizla upazila under Barishal district from erosion by the Mehgna River.
According to the proposal, titled “Protect Hizla Upazila’s Old Hizla, Baushiya and Harinathpur areas from the River Erosion of Meghna River,” the project will conserve the directions of Meghna River and save assets worth around Tk 3,341.14 crore at the Hizla upazila and its surrounded areas.
However, the Planning Commission raised questions over the cost estimated for the conservation of 7.67km-long bank of the river under the project, which has been set at Tk 479.14 crore in the project proposal.
The project estimated a cost of Tk 6.25 lakh per metre for riverbank conservation.
The commission has asked the ministry to provide the detailed costs of river erosion programme, and also inquired whether the velocity of water flow of the river has been kept under consideration while drafting the project.
The project, which will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water development Board by June 2023, will be funded from the government exchequer.
The commission asked the ministry to mention, in the development project proposal, details of the Flood Return Period and the maximum and minimum water level in the last 10 years at the project area.
“The cost of river erosion programme under the project is not logical. So, we will discuss the issue at the project PEC meeting, which will be held soon,” Planning Commission Additional Secretary (Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division) Md Matiar Rahman said while talking to The Business Post.
On the other hand, Water Resources Ministry Deputy Secretary Md Ehtesham Reza said, “As every river has its own sediment volume, there are many variations of it. So, there will be variations with the cost per metre of the protection of river banks due to the environmental aspects.”
According to the project proposal, river banks of the Hizla area have been greatly affected by the meandering Meghna River. Apart from the Meghna, Kalabadar and Arial Kha rivers also flow through the area.
During the rainy season, high water levels in rivers cause erosion affecting businesses, houses, institutions, banks, Madrasas, schools, colleges, masjid, crop lands and different government and private institutions.
The project aims to save different establishments under Hizla Upazila, including schools, colleges, hospitals, Harinathpur bazar, launch terminal and private offices.
The main components of the project include protecting the 7.67 kilometres river bank and dredging of 5.30km on the Meghna River.
