Dhaka, Sept 01 -The government has taken steps to re- excavate 921 canals and 1,611 large and small ponds in the country’s 56 districts to encourage rural youths for fish and poultry farming.“Re-excavation of canals and ponds will create employment opportunities for youths of poor families in rural areas that will bring dynamism in the rural economy. It will also ensure availability of surface water for rural people,” state minister for finance and planning MA Mannan told BSS.
On August 29 the Executive Committee of the National Economic of Council(ECNEC) approved the ‘Countrywide pond and canal development project’ involving a total cost of Tk 1,334.95 crore with a view to preserving surface water through development and re-excavation of ponds and canals.
Mannan said the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division (LGD) will implement the pond and canal development project by June 2023 in 400 Upazilas under 56 districts of eight divisions.
He said canals and ponds in 56 districts except the Barendra region will be re-excavated. The government will take steps to plant trees on the banks of these canals and ponds.
Under the project, 2,372 kilometres of 921 canals and 1,611 large and small ponds having an area of 1,705 acres will be re-excavated. According to a survey of LGED, there are 14,910 Khas large and small ponds and 6,536 canals in the country. There are also 3,493 large and small ponds owned by different organizations. – Agencies
