130 families get new houses Saturday

One hundred and thirty families who lost their home due to land acquisition for construction of 1,320MW Payra Thermal Power Station at Dhankhali under the district's Kalapara upazila are now happily waiting to get their new houses.

Construction of all the houses is complete and the prime minister is scheduled to open the rehabilitation site and hand over keys of the houses to the recipients on October 27, said Md Motiul Islam, deputy commissioner.

One thousand acres of land was acquired for setting up the power station at Payra and 130 families became homeless in the process, said Md Shipon Ali, sub-assistant engineer of North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) that is building the station.

“For rehabilitation of the families, we built 130 new houses in the 16-acre site at a cost of Tk 50 crore. Each house contains three bedrooms, a kitchen, a store, two baths, a dining space and a yard where fruit trees are planted,” he said.

Talking with this correspondent, several families expressed happiness due to the arrangement.

“I am very happy as I am going to get a new house, which will enable my five-member family to live in a better environment,” said Ziaur Rahman, 30, whose 2.5 acres of land was acquired for building the power station.

“Earlier we didn't think we will get such a nice house to live in. Our three sons will get better environment in the house with electricity and other modern equipment,” said Zia's wife Salma Begum.

Nasu Hawlader, who became landless after losing all of his 2.40 acres of land due to the acquisition, said, “I thank the government for taking the step to rehabilitate us in a safe and nice environment. Now I am going to get a new house where I can live with my family of six.”

“Of the houses, 82 each with 1,200 square feet (sft) accommodation have been built for the families who lost house covering more than 20 decimals of land and 48 other 1,000 sft ones for those who lost home covering less than 20 decimals of land,” said engineer Shipon.

“A mosque, a playground, a kitchen market, a community centre, a community clinic, and seven shops have been built at the site. Besides, 42 deep tube-wells have been set and two ponds dug,” he said.

“The Rural Electrification Board has already given power connection to the site and 2.10km paved road, 4.20km drains and 1.20km boundary have been built to ensure sanitation and safety for the families,” he added.