Those who lost their homes due to the Payra power plant in Patuakhali now look forward to becoming owners of new homes with power lines, paved roads and other facilities.
Homes built under the Pyra residential project will soon be handed over to those who lost their homesteads two years ago.
The coal-fired 1320 megawatts (MW) plant is expected to go in operation in April next year.
Bangladesh-China Power Company Ltd (BCPCL), a joint venture of Chinese power company CMC and Bangladesh’s North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL), is implementing the project at a cost of about $2 billion.
The residential area provides various facilities: mosque, school building, proper roads etc. All the semi-concrete homes on a 16 acres land, as part of the rehabilitation process, are complete.
Families which lost large lands will be given 1200 square feet homes while the others will get 1000 square feet residences. There are 82 big and 48 smaller homesteads.
These ideal homes have small plots of land on the front for vegetable growing or for rearing animals; a pond has been excavated; 48 deep tube-wells have been installed and a hospital plus school are being built. Proper sewerage line plus a graveyard have been set up.
The biggest benefit of the residents is that since they will be within the power station area, they will always have electricity.
NWPGCL chief executive AM Khorshedeul Alam, said: “We want a top official from the government to come and hand over the keys to the homeowners.”
This will create a sense among people that if the government takes something then it also gives back more, he added. “Once people see this they will feel encouraged to give their land for government projects.”
NWPGCL sources say that a certain amount (Tk 0.3) from the sale of per unit of power will be spent for lifestyle development of the residents.
Project director of the Payra Power Plant Shah Abdul Mowla, said: “The school will be run by us with emphasis on technical education plus language learning.”
We will use the school as a platform to develop workers for the power plant, so residence plus employment will be ensured, he enthused.