Payra Thermal Power Plant Rehabilitation Project opens

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday opened Payra Power Plant Rehabilitation Project at Kolapara in Patuakhali this afternoon and visited the power plant.

The premier opened the scheme named Swapner Thikana at a function on the power plant premises.

She also visited newly constructed houses for the people affected in project area and handed over keys and registration papers to the rehabilitated families, BSS reports.

She also released fish fries into the ponds of the centre and planted a sapling.

Earlier, she visited Payra Thermal Power Plant Project where Power Division Secretary Ahmed Kaikaus and the project director briefed her on different aspects of the plant.

She also briefly addressed a gathering of workers and said that the power plant will bring about a revolutionary change in the life and livelihood of the people of the southern region.

“The power plant will open the door for a beautiful life of the people of the region,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina thanked all concerned for working round-the-clock to complete the project.

Highlighting the government’s steps for generating electricity in the country, the prime minister said the government has been able to produce 20,000 MW electricity over the last 10 years.

Ministers, parliament members, PM’s advisers, local AL leaders and high civil and military officials were present.

The state-run North-West Power Generation Company Ltd and Chinese CMC Company are jointly constructing the ultra supercritical power plant.

According to officials, the present capacity of the plant is 1497 MW, while the future plan is to produce 6130 MW.

The authorities have set a target to generate 10,000 MW by 2025 through the plant.

Through the same function, the prime minister opened 16 development projects of different areas of Patuakhali district by unveiling their plaques from Payra Thermal Power Plant.

The projects are: construction works of five-storey girls hostel and academic cum-examination hall of Patuakhali Government College, construction works of four-storey academic buildings of Hazi Akkel Ali Hawlader College, Ishak Model Degree College, Kuakata Khanabad College, Muktijoddha Memorial College, Alhaj Jalal Uddin College, Subidkhali Degree College and construction works of four-storey academic building of Dumki Janata Degree

college, cent percent electrification of Dumki upazila, Mirzaganj 33/11 kv power substation, Sheikh Hasina Sarak at Payra Port and service jetty, mosque, officers’ guest house and staff dormitory of Payra Port.

Later, Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stones of five-storey science building of Patuakhali Government College, 96-meter bridge on the Srimanta river, two farmers training centers at Kolapara and Mirzaganj upazilas in Patuakhali district under Krishak Training Center (3rd phase) Project and the rehabilitation area for Payra Port affected people.

The prime minister earlier arrived here from Dhaka by an Air Force helicopter on a daylong visit to the coastal districts of Patuakhali and Barguna to see the Payra Port and the Payra Thermal Power Plant as well as inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of a number of development projects.

Later, Sheikh Hasina will visit Barguna district and inaugurate 21 different development projects.

She will open the development schemes by unveiling their plaques from Taltoli Government High School Ground in the afternoon.

The projects are: a 250-bed hospital, two Fire Service and Civil Defense stations at Bamna and Betagi upazilas, district library, the construction work of a barrack for women police personnel at district police lines and other projects, extension works of 2nd floor of hostel for blind children, Amtoli Thana building, Barguna Sadar union land office, Dowatola Union Land Office (coastal), Hosnabad Union land office, repair of coastal embankments affected by cyclone Sidr and Aila, construction works of four-storey academic buildings cum cyclone shelter centers of M Baliatoli D N College in Barguna Sadar, Syed Fazlul Haque Degree College in Pathorghata and Yunus Ali Khan Degree College in Amtoli, Upazila Livestock Development Center in Taltoli, Bakerganj-Padrishibpur-Kathaltoli-Subidkhali-Barguna road widening works, a bridge, Taltoli upazila parishad complex, Bamna upazila parishad complex, Gourachinna Union Parishad Complex, One House One Firm and Polli Sanchoy Bank buildings in Bamna.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, will address a public rally to be organised by her party on Taltoli Government High School Ground at 3pm.