The Purbachal project, a new township in the capital, will get water supply through deep tube wells until the completion of the Meghna water supply line, according to a government decision yesterday.  

The cabinet committee on economic affairs gave its nod at a meeting at the secretariat in Dhaka.

“The implementation of the project has been delayed due to the rehabilitation of the displaced people of the project area and someone filed a case for a specific reason,” said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters after the meeting.

He said there were limitations on the use of groundwater and the surface water would have to be used in the future. But Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project is yet to be completed.  So, the cabinet approved the use of ground water in the new township project through setting up of deep tube wells, said Kamal.

The Purbachal project is being implemented by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha at a cost of Tk 7,700 crore.

The cabinet committee also approved a project centring a special economic zone for Japanese investors at Araihazar in Narayanganj. Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) has acquired 500 acres of land for the zone and another 500 acres are in the process of being acquired.

Kamal said Japan was a tested friend of Bangladesh and sought two SEZs for its investors. The other zone will be set up at Mirsarai in Chattogram. Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corporation and Beza will develop the project site in Araihazar under a joint venture.