The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Council of Advisers at a meeting yesterday in Khulna Circuit House has given approval to different projects for the development of southern region of the country.

Construction of Padma bridge, modernisation of Mongla Port and development of power generation for uninterrupted supply of power to Khulna city are among the key features of the development.

The meeting unanimously decided to start the construction work of Padma Bridge with a cost of Tk 10,161.75 crore from January in the next year.

Two projects for modernisation of Mongla Port with a tune of Tk 58 crore 56 lakh for purchasing cutter suction dredger and Tk 24 crore and 70 lakh for purchasing pilot boat and pilot despatch are waiting for the approval of the Planning Commission.

The power situation in Khulna would be improved after the 34.5 megawatt power plant in Bhola resumed its operation in October this year.

Projects Tk 628 crore 70 lakh and Tk 342 crore 18 lakh from Asian Development Bank are being implemented for supplying gas in 21 south and western districts.

Waste Water Treatment Plant for shrimp processing management in Khulan city would also resume its operation soon after the connection of power.

Projects worth Tk 206 crore 88 lakh 36 thousand have been implemented for various rural infrastructure development.

The project work of Support to Essential Management Capacity in the Sundarbans World Heritage with a cost of 75b lakh 52 will be implemented from January this year.

To improve the quality of education the meeting also allocated Tk 17 crore 51 lakh and 86 thousand for construction of academic and administrative building and extension of female student hall and Tk 22 crore for building mosque and medical centre, in the Khulna university.

The meeting also decided to set up a new medical college in Jessore and extend number of bed of Narail Hospital from 50 to 100 and Magura Hospital from 100 to 150 with a cost of Tk 11 crore.