Landing station size cut to ensure navigability

This under construction base meant for landing of heavy equipment for Ashuganj Power Station Company Ltd will now be reduced by 20 feet towards the bank of the Meghna River to ensure smooth navigability of the important waterway. PHOTO: STAR

The size of the temporary landing station being built on the eastern slope of the Meghna River for unloading the heavy equipment for the under construction 1200 MW plant of Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL) will now be reduced by 20 feet.
The decision has been taken as per suggestion of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to ensure unhindered navigability of the river, APSCL sources said.
On Tuesday, an eight-member team, headed by Md Manzoor Quadir, joint director (Port) of BIWTA, visited the spot where TSK Spain, the contactor of 1200 MW power plant of APSCL, is making the temporary landing base with the help of local workers to unload pieces of heavy equipment weighing over 380 tonnes each.
As the team found that the 70×60 feet landing base may partially hamper the navigation, they advised APSCL to move it 20 feet towards the riverbank.
"One year ago, we gave permission to APSCL to use the bank of the Meghna River temporarily to land heavy equipment for setting up its 1200 MW plant. Now process is on to renew the permission," said Manzoor Quadir.
"The permission is likely to continue till completion of the plant. In case of any damage or loss to any party due to activities of APSCL, the power station authorities must compensate," he added.
Md Nurul Alam, managing director (MD) of APSCL, said, "The landing base will be used only for setting up the 1200MW power plant and will be closed after completion of the base. As the pieces of equipment are very heavy, we have to unload those from barges to land, instead of jetty."
ASPCL produces 730MW electricity at present.
Its under construction mega-plant will start power generation in December 2014 and reach 1200MW production capacity by June 2016.
Meanwhile, dispute prevails between two local groups over sub-contact of labourers for the project.