Tk 30 cr IADP work in CHT progressing at snail's pace

BANDARBAN, Jan 1: Implementation of the Integrated Agricultural Development Project (IADP) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is progressing at a snail's pace for lack of adequate allocation of fund, reports UNB.

The project was undertaken for 1996-2000 fiscal years with an involvement of Tk 30 crore. But till the end of this year, only Tk 13.50 crore have been sanctioned, official sources said.

Of the sanctioned, Tk 12 crore went to salary and allowances of project officials and employees while the development work as going on with the little that remained, said an official wishing anonymity.

The project includes construction of 75 dams for agricultural development and pisciculture in three hill districts, one agro-services centre, one nursery and two seed processing centres.

But due to fund shortage, construction works are going on only for eight dams, one agro-services centre and one seed processing centre. Work on the remaining projects stopped soon after it began.

If the 75 dams were constructed, some 3,750 acres of land in the hilly region could be brought under crop cultivation to produce crops worth Tk 4.50 crore apart from huge quantity of fishes.

The authorities are trying to extend the project period by two years but as yet they are not sure if the remaining amount of Tk 16 crore will be available.