Pilot project for Teesta master plan to begin soon: State minister Azad
Assuring that there would be no political discrimination in measures to prevent river erosion, Azad says the government stands beside people affected by erosion.
State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad today (8 August) said the technical committee has been working on the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan and its consultations are also being held with the experts from different countries.
"A pilot project under the master plan will be launched within a short time," he made the remarks while talking to the journalists at Chilmari river port area.
Earlier, the state minister visited several river erosion-hit areas at Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas of the district.
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Responding to questions about the Teesta project, Azad said, "The Teesta is a major project. It is not possible to implement such a large project in a single day. Our government is only five months old. Give us some time. We will begin work on the Teesta Master Plan as a pilot project within a short time."
Regarding the overall river erosion situation in Kurigram, the state minister said he had personally inspected the erosion-hit areas across the district including the Chilmari river port.
He said two projects have already been undertaken to construct permanent embankments and prevent river erosion in the district. The government is reviewing the progress of the projects and taking steps to ensure their speedy implementation.
Assuring that there would be no political discrimination in measures to prevent river erosion, Azad said the government stands beside people affected by erosion.
"The government has taken necessary measures so that the people do not lose their homes, markets, mosques, temples or educational institutions to river erosion," he said.
He further said, "Following the prime minister's instructions, we are conducting field-level visits together with local members of parliament and relevant officials to determine how quickly the projects can be implemented."
The minister said emergency work is currently underway in around 100 erosion-prone areas of Kurigram. He added that instructions would be issued to take prompt measures wherever further intervention is required.
After his programme here, the state minister said he would travel to Gaibandha to inspect two ongoing projects funded by the World Bank.
Among others, lawmakers from Kurigram-4 constituency Mostafizur Rahman, Kurigram-3 constituency Barrister Mahbub Salehi, reserved seat women lawmaker Suraiya Jerin Roni, Bangladesh Water Development Board Director General Md Ruhul Amin, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath and Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan, accompanied the state minister.
Excepting those officials, Kurigram district BNP convener Mostafizur Rahman, its member secretary Sohel Hossain Kaikobad, senior joint convener Shafiqul Islam Babu, joint convener Prof. Habibur Rahman Hasib, Convener of Chilmari upazila BNP freedom fighter Abdul Bari, its member secretary Assistant Prof. Abu Hanifa and joint convener Assistant Prof. Fazlul Haque, were also present at that time.
