Tk 386cr project taken to save Mehendiganj from Meghna erosion

The government has taken initiative to protect land from river erosion for sustainable economic development and to ensure poverty alleviation in the country.
In addition, livelihood of the people would also be developed on priority basis after assessing the structural and non-structural losses.
For this reason, the Water Resource Ministry has taken a project worth Tk 386 crore to protect the Ulaniya-Gobindapur area of Mehendiganj Upazila of Barishal district from erosion.
The Ministry has sent the project proposal to the Planning Commission while Pre-Evaluation Committee (PEC) has already assessed the proposal.
According to sources, the project is likely to be placed before the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting Tuesday for final approval.  
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) under the Water Resource Ministry will implement the project in the areas of the upazilas threatened by erosion by June 2020.
Sources said if implemented the project will improve the socio-economic condition of the government and private institutions, including houses, roads, haats, markets, agricultural zones and the overall socio-economic condition of Mehendiganj Upazila.
NM Shamsuddin Azad Chowdhury, Member, Planning Commission, said if implemented the project would help stop erosion of different infrastructure assets of Ulaniya-Gobindapur area of Mehendiganj by the Meghna River and create employment opportunities for the local people and help in their socio-economic development.
He said, "Sustainable economic development and poverty alleviation will be ensured through preventing erosion in the river basin."
The main activities of the project are to strengthen river bank protection works and drainage of 4.55 metre rivers, 2,000 metres of river conservation, and 875 metre Climate Change Trust Fund (CCTF) project.
According to the sources, Ulaniya and Gobindapur union of Mehendiganj Upazila district is situated on the right bank of the Meghna River.
In the rainy season, severe erosion of the Ulaniya -Gobindapur area has happened in the last few years due to strong currents and waves.