Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated Payra Power Plant Rehabilitation Project at Patuakhali’s Kolapara.

The premier opened the scheme named Swapner Thikana at a function on the power plant premises on Saturday, reports BSS.

She also visited newly constructed houses for the people affected in project area and handed over keys and registration papers to the rehabilitated families.

She also released fish fries into the ponds of the centre and planted a sapling.

Earlier, she visited Payra Thermal Power Plant Project where Power Division Secretary Ahmed Kaikaus and the project director briefed her on different aspects of the plant.

She also briefly addressed a gathering of workers and said that the power plant will bring about a revolutionary change in the life and livelihood of the people of the southern region.

“The power plant will open the door for a beautiful life of the people of the region,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina thanked all concerned for working round-the-clock to complete the project.

Highlighting the government’s steps for generating electricity in the country, the prime minister said the government has been able to produce 20,000 MW electricity over the last 10 years.

Ministers, parliament members, PM’s advisers, local AL leaders and high civil and military officials were present.

The state-run North-West Power Generation Company Ltd and Chinese CMC Company are jointly constructing the ultra supercritical power plant.

According to officials, the present capacity of the plant is 1497 MW, while the future plan is to produce 6130 MW.

The authorities have set a target to generate 10,000 MW by 2025 through the plant.

Through the same function, the prime minister opened 16 development projects of different areas of Patuakhali district by unveiling their plaques from Payra Thermal Power Plant.

The projects are: construction works of five-storey girls hostel and academic cum-examination hall of Patuakhali Government College, construction works of four-storey academic buildings of Hazi Akkel Ali Hawlader College, Ishak Model Degree College, Kuakata Khanabad College, Muktijoddha Memorial College, Alhaj Jalal Uddin College, Subidkhali Degree College and construction works of four-storey academic building of Dumki Janata Degree
college, cent percent electrification of Dumki upazila, Mirzaganj 33/11 kv power substation, Sheikh Hasina Sarak at Payra Port and service jetty, mosque, officers’ guest house and staff dormitory of Payra Port.

Later, Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stones of five-storey science building of Patuakhali Government College, 96-meter bridge on the Srimanta river, two farmers training centers at Kolapara and Mirzaganj upazilas in Patuakhali district under Krishak Training Center (3rd phase) Project and the rehabilitation area for Payra Port affected people.

The prime minister earlier arrived here from Dhaka by an Air Force helicopter on a daylong visit to the coastal districts of Patuakhali and Barguna to see the Payra Port and the Payra Thermal Power Plant as well as inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of a number of development projects.

Later, the premier is scheduled to visit visit Barguna district and inaugurate 21 different development projects.