The team led by Joint Chief of Planning Commission Hamidur Rahman, visited different areas of the proposed project and exchanged views with local people, journalist and district officials. The team came to Patuakhali on Friday.

Hamidur Rahman told journalists at the Circuit House that work on the project would start soon.

"We hope to start work in the current financial year (2007-2008) considering its importance", he said.

"We have already completed feasibility study at a cost of Tk 35 lakh", he added.

He said the project would be completed on priority basis.

The project profile would be send to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) soon for approval, Hamidur said.

Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner AGM Mir Moshiur Alam, Water Development Board Executive Engineer Zahir Udddin Ahmed and acting chairman of Patuakhali pourasabha Abu Zafar Samsuddin also spoke on the occasion.

The Patuakhali Town Protection Embankment-cum-Drainage Project involving Tk 17 crore was taken up 10 years ago after a visit by the then agriculture minister Majid-Ul-Haque.

Patuakhali town is surrounded by Lawkathi river on the north and Lohalia river on thee. Water from the rivers roll into the town during high tide, tidal surge and flood.

The project includes construction of 4.20 km flood control embankment, eight drains, eight sluice gates, 38 out lets, one km wall and installation of four power pumps.

Earlier, a team from water resources ministry visited Patuakhali in January last year and submitted a report highlighting importance of a town protection embankment.