Housing project in Patuakhali for displaced families
DOT Desk: Work on a housing project in the western architectural style is underway in the village of Londa under Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali, reportsThe Independent.
The project will provide housing facilities to 281 families that have been displaced following land acquisition for a 1,320 MW coal-based power plant.
The objective is to rehabilitate the displaced families in modern suburban homes by June 2020, a source from Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) said. The 1,320 MW coal-based power plant is being built at Londa village will be a part of the 30,000 MW power zone developing in the southern districts of Patuakhali and Barguna. A 915-acre plot has been acquired in Londa village of Dhankhali union of Kalapara for the power plant through a joint venture between RPCL and Chinese company Norinco.
As a result of the land acquisition, 281 families have been displaced. The government’s power generation company, RPCL, has started work on a 29-acre housing project to rehabilitate them at a cost of Tk 120 crore.
Sources said work on the housing project began on January 2018.
A bedroom, a dining room, a kitchen, and a bathroom are available in each of the 281 homes of Type A and Type B. Of these, 261 houses have an area of 1,000 sq. ft and 20 homes of 1,200 sq. ft. Every 10 families will have access to a shared courtyard. The project will also house of 11,000 sq. ft mosque along with a safe water system, a community clinic cum cyclone centre, a technical training school, a market for fresh produce, a mini stadium, a cemetery, a shopping centre, a fountain for beautification, and a drainage system. The property will also have four watch towers with car parking to ensure security.
The Prime Minister has directed that the households affected by the land acquisition have access to all residential facilities before construction of the main power plant begins.
Rina Begum of Londa village, whose family was affected, said, “I had lost my husband and my father-in-law, which left me in deep distress. But now I can leave my tin house and move into a pucca home. We will be getting a city in the village.”
Kabir Talukder of Dhankhali village was also affected by the land acquisition. He said, “We are happy that the government is building modern housing for the affected families.”