PABNA, Oct 07:- Vegetables are currently being cultivated on the Banarash palli project, which has not been completed even in 20 years, aimed at the development of the textile industry. The project was an initiative of Bangladesh Textile Board, aimed at the development of textile industry.
According to sources related to the project, this project was planned in the 90s with the aim of alleviating the financial crisis of thousands of weavers in the northern region and expanding the Banarasi industry. Its construction started in 2000 under the name of ‘Ishwardi Benarasipalli’. 5.5 acres of land was acquired in Fatemohamadpur area of the city at a cost of about 2 crore 12 lakhs. After that, various facilities for weavers including electricity, water, drainage system, boundary wall, office, mosque were arranged by allocating some more money. On December 12, 2004, the then textile and jute minister Shajahan Siraj inaugurated the project. However, the project did not make significant progress.
Out of the 90 plots of the project, no full-fledged factories have been set up so far. One of the 5 recently opened factories has closed down, while the remaining four are still operating in some form. 14 plots have already been canceled due to non-payment and 22 more are in the process of cancellation. Local weavers have alleged that the scheme could not be implemented due to long inefficient planning, lack of proper patronage and lack of proper supervision.
Recently, it has been seen on the ground that various vegetables such as gourd, brinjal, beans, bitter gourd etc. are being cultivated in the project land. The condition of the office is bad; The windows and doors are broken, the walls are stained with moss, and the furniture is ruined. Surrounded by forest, only 2-3 factories are visible from a distance.
A woman of the area said, “As people of the area, we are cultivating vegetables in the paddy field and for this we give some money annually for the purpose of developing the mosque.”
Shariful Islam, a weaver of a factory, said, “The permanent factory has not yet been built.” We built the factories with our own money. But they are often closed during financial crisis.
Shah Jamal, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Benarasipalli, said, “Though the plots were allotted to the weavers, they could not pay the installments and the factories were not built.” The allotted weavers are not in a position to set up full-fledged factories and are awaiting government loans. The scheme is ending by December, then maybe the scheme will start again under the new rules.’
