The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Barisal

Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) will construct as many as 398 cyclone shelter centres in 12 natural calamity prone districts of the southern region of the country.

Official sources said, the centres will be constructed involving Taka 571 crore under a project 'PEDP-11' in the next fiscal.

There will be a provision of government primary school each at all the centres. The construction work of the shelter centres will be started in August for 2008-2009 fiscal.

Meanwhile, tenders have been floated through different national dailies for construction of 180 cyclone shelters in the first phase.

Of the total centres, 77 will be constructed in Barisal district, 67 in Barguna district, 10 in Bhola district, 70 in Patuakhali district, 54 in Pirojpur district, 24 in Madaripur district, 31 in Shariatpur district, six in Gopalgonj district, 12 in Chandpur district, two in Khulna district, 40 in Bagerhat district and five in Satkhira district.

As many as 11 donor countries have been financing for the projects, the sources added.

Talking to BSS, Additional Chief Engineer of LGED Nurul Islam said this project is being implemented considering the destruction of recent cyclone Sidr.

The works of the project, he said, would be completed within next two years.

Besides, a number of cyclone shelter centres would also be constructed under the financial assistance of Japan and World Bank in this region, the sources added.