(BSS)- Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today said construction of the Padma Barrage will begin next year.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate work of the barrage by any time between January and March, 2027, he said.

Anee said this while visiting the proposed site of the Padma Barrage at Pangsha Upazila of Rajbari district today.

The minister said the Padma Barrage will transform the economy of 24 southwestern districts, bringing major change in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Two hydroelectric power plants of 113 megawatts each will be built under the Padma Barrage project, he said adding that the technical survey of the project was started in 2004 while Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister.

The minister further said that necessary manpower has been recruited for the Padma Barrage project and they have started their activities.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman the present government has approved the project at a cost of Taka 34,497 crore.

The 2.1 kilometer long Padma Barrage will be implemented with GOB fund in next 7 years. It will have 78 spillway gates, 18 under-sluice gates, one navigation lock, and two fish passes. A railway bridge will also be constructed over the barrage, he added.

Prime Minister’s advisor on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, and Member of Parliament for Rajbari-2 constituency Harun-or-Rashid were present.

In the afternoon, the minister inspected the Padma-Gorai confluence at Haripur-Saldah in Kushtia Sadar Upazila.

At that time he told journalists that the Padma Barrage will help control river erosion during the monsoon season and resolve scarcity of water in lean period.

The project will also help protect the ecosystem of mangrove forest Sundarbans.