PM reveals plan centring Paira Port

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told the House that the work on infrastructural development on the Paira Port would be completed by 2023, reports BSS.


In reply to a question from AKM Jahangir Hossain (Patuakhali-3) during her weekly question answer session, Sheikh Hasina said construction of three jetties of the port would be completed by 2018.

Sheikh Hasina said the infrastructural works of the port were divided into 19 components, of which, two components would be implemented by the Paira Port Authority with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and on a G2G basis.

Feasibility studies of these components have already been completed and memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed with different organisations very shortly and other seven components would be implemented by the concerned ministries, she said. The prime minister said the government has taken an initiative to establish an authority under the Housing and Public Works Ministry for integrated development of Paira, Kuakata, Taltali, Patharghata, Amtali and Rangabali.

Paira Port would play an epoch making role in making the people of self- reliant through creating employment opportunities. Different steps taken by the government for socioeconomic economic development would supplement the process,she said.

The prime minister said the industries ministry has taken steps for construction of shipbuilding and maintenance industries in Patuakhali district for which 6,100 acres of land have already been allocated in favour of the ministry.

Sheikh Hasina said the work on construction of two 660MW coal based power plant at Dhankhali union of Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district is going on in full swing. The first unit of the plant will be operational in April 2019 and second unit in October the same year.

In the second phase, another power plant (630x2) would be constructed in the area with a 100 MW solar power plant and a 50 MW wind power plant on ash pond of the power plant, she said.

The prime minister said a Land Based LNG Terminal would be constructed in the area adjacent to the Paira Port for which administrative approval was given for acquiring 200 acres of land for this purpose. LNG Terminal would help development of gas based industries in the area, she said.

Besides, the government has been implementing various projects in road,highways and railway sectors to accelerate socioeconomic development of the southern region, the prime minister said.