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Cabinet Meets in Ctg Tomorrow

Non-availability of gas blocks investment worth Tk 3500cr

Abdullah Al Mahmud, qr
Amid high hopes of the people, the 5th cabinet meeting outside the capital will be held in Chittagong tomorrow
Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed will chair the meeting at the conference room of the local Circuit House at 10.30am.
The meeting raises a high hope among the people in Chittagong where non-availability of gas has been blocking a huge investment of around Tk 3500 crore in different industrial units for months together
With some 33 percent loadshedding taking place here as against an average of 20 percent in the country, acute crisis of power
and consequent water crisis are halting economic growth and disrupting normal life In the city.
Due to lack of initiative for developing required infrastructure, Chittagong yet to be turned into a commercial capital in true sense.
When the city, nestled amid scenic beauty of hills and vales overlooking the Bay of Bengal, could easily be turned into a city of tourist attraction, hillslides and waterlogging are wrecking havoc on lives and properties here frequently.
However, tomorrow's cabinet meeting is expected to focus on gas and power crisis alongside the infrastructural development and creation of housing and employment facilities, said the sources
concerned.
The chief adviser is expected to announce some short-term solutions to provide immediate gas connections to industrial units that could not go into operation and setting up of a separate gas distribution centre titled Karnaphuli Gas Systems Limited (KGSL)' to ensure smooth distribution of gas in Chittagong.
He is also expected to announce the formulation of policy for Merchant Power Plant to produce power through public-private partnership in future.
Sources said some 68 industrial units could not go into operation or be set up due to non-availability of gas.
Operation of these industrial units could create employment for
around 50,000 people.
The meeting is also expected to discuss and take decision on some 15 projects of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to be implemented by its own fund worth Tk 6537.86 crore.
The waterlogging issue is also expected to come up for discussion at the meeting.
A six-member committee, formed on June 20, prepared a set of recommendations last month for developing the drainage system as per Chittagong Storm Water Drainage and Flood* Control Master Plan 1995.
"We have recommended for developing the drainage system in line with the first phase of the master plan,” said CDA Chairman Shah Muhammad Akhtaruddin.