BENAPOLE: As natural gas goes to the country’s southwestern region under a government decision, the long-stalled works for installing the supply pipeline is going to start within this year, official sources said.
Bangladesh Gas Transmission Company (BGTC) has started initial works through acquiring land at Muradnagar village in Jessore Sadar upazila. Land acquisition has already been completed in Kushtia and Jhenidah districts, the sources said.
Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is implementing the project, expected to be complete in 2012. The initial expenditure for the project is estimated at Tk 531 crore.
Assistant Manager of BGTC Abdul Mannan told banglanews24.com.bd that the pipes have already reached Mongla Port. “The pipes would be set three feet under the ground, so agricultural works are not hampered.”
Officials confirmed that the lands are being acquired by paying proper compensation. Gas supply to the region would generate a new hope for the industrial units.
An ECNEC meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, last year gave the go to the scheme. Under the project, gas will be supplied to Kushtia, Jessore, Jhenidah, Khulna, Bagerhat, Bheramara and Noapara for domestic and industrial usages.
President of Jessore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahidul Islam Milon said the closed mills on the banks of River Bhairab, in Noapara of Jessore, Khulna and Kushtia would be rolling again when gas supply begins.
Earlier, the four-party alliance government had undertaken the gas supply project for the region under the Gas Sector Development Project phase-2, financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Under the Tk 612 crore first-phase works, 141-km pipeline will be installed from Elenga point of Tangail district to Bheramara in Kushtia via Bonpara, Sirajganj and Iswardi in Pabna.
On the other hand, Tk 685-crore second-phase works include the setting up of 165 kms of pipeline from Bheramara of Kushtia to Khulna via Jhenidah and Jessore.
A total of 856-km gas pipelines are to be installed to connect 10 districts under the project. But the project works came to a halt as the funds were not released during the four-party reign.
BDST: 1200 HRS. June 28, 2010
Corr/ SRJ/LY/MUA
