PM opens Tk1,542cr flood control project in Feni
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday inaugurated the Tk1,542.16-crore rehabilitation of the Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project (Phase I) in Feni, aimed at strengthening flood protection, improving drainage and expanding irrigation facilities in the district.
The prime minister formally inaugurated the project at around 2:18pm at the Kheya Ghat area near Muhuri Bridge in Parshuram upazila during his daylong visit to Feni. It is his first official visit to the district since taking office.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the project on June 16 at an estimated cost of Tk1,542.16 crore.
Under the project, 67.92 kilometres of flood-control embankments will be rehabilitated, while 11.73 kilometres of riverbanks will be protected and 83.50 kilometres of rivers and water bodies will be re-excavated.
The project also includes the rehabilitation of 27 irrigation structures and construction of 77 inlets. It is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
The Muhuri irrigation system is an important water-management project serving areas of Feni, Chhagalnaiya, Parshuram, Fulgazi and Sonagazi, helping reduce flood risks during the monsoon while supplying irrigation water to agricultural areas.
In the project’s next phase, the government plans to construct new embankments along the Muhuri and Kohua rivers and carry out embankment construction, excavation and rehabilitation work along the Silonia River.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water
Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, Feni-1 MP Rafiqul Alam Maznu, Feni-2 MP Joynal Abedin and lawmaker Rehana Akter Ranu were among those present at the inauguration.
The prime minister arrived in Feni earlier in the day for a series of programmes.
He was also scheduled to attend a tree-planting programme at Begum Khaleda Zia Women’s College in Fulgazi and inaugurate the supply of electricity to the national grid from a rooftop solar power system installed at the Fulgazi District Council Dak Bungalow.
Later, he is scheduled to distribute Family Cards and Farmer Cards, provide honorariums to imams, muezzins, khadims and priests, and address a public gathering at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground.
Under a government initiative, rooftop solar systems with a combined capacity of 962.5 kilowatts have been installed on government buildings in Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya upazilas.
A total of 510 people in Fulgazi are expected to receive Family Cards, while 7,643 people across Feni district are set to receive Farmer Cards.
Honorariums are also scheduled to be distributed among 238 imams, muezzins, khadims and priests in Fulgazi.
