Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said that a large amount of budget has been allocated for the implementation of the canal digging program across the country and all the projects have been planned on the basis of specific calculations. He said, according to the government’s election manifesto, there is a plan to dig about 20 thousand kilometers of canals across the country. As part of this programme, a target has been set to complete the excavation of around 1,200 km of canals within the next six months. However, as it is not possible to implement such a big project together, the work will be carried out step by step.
He said this while talking to reporters after inaugurating the canal digging program at Mirsarai, Chittagong on Monday (March 16).
The minister said that if the digging of 20,000 kilometers of canals is completed, there will be a big change in the overall image of the country. It will increase agricultural production, improve the environment and have a positive impact on the local economy. When a canal is completed, about 15,000 hectares of land will come under new cultivation and about 5,000 tons of additional food production will be possible.
The finance minister also said that many canals have been occupied in different parts of the country. The work of demarcation of these canals has already started. Where there are government owned canals, no person or group shall be allowed to encroach. After determining the boundaries, the excavation work will be conducted accordingly.
He said that the government’s aim is to implement the development projects with transparency and reduce the scope of corruption. Various social security programs like agriculture card, family card and canal digging projects are being implemented to improve the quality of life of people.
At that time, State Minister for Lands Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin and Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Zahidul Islam Miya were present.
