The government will implement two separate projects for riverbank protection and strengthening climate resilience and disaster preparedness in eight coastal towns with credit support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Total cost of the projects has been estimated at $425.7 million (Tk. 3,277.89 crore). The Manila-based lender in a statement Tuesday said an ADB multi-tranche loan financing facility of $255 million will help put in place riverbank protection structures and embankments along vulnerable portions of the Jamuna, Padma, and Ganges rivers—the country’s main waterways. On top of ADB’s funds, the government of the Netherlands will provide co-financing of $15.3 million (Tk 117.8 crore), with the government of Bangladesh supplying counterpart funds of $103.4 million (Tk 796 crore) for the investment program. Meanwhile, the ‘Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project’ involving another $52 million will strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness in eight vulnerable coastal pourashavas. The scheme will take a holistic and integrated approach to urban development and to provide climate-resilient municipal infrastructure; and strengthen institutional capacity, local governance and public awareness for improved urban planning and service delivery considering climate change and disaster risks. The ADB said it will ensure high quality riverbank protection measures in Bangladesh to prevent land erosion, which is destroying livelihoods and recurring an estimated loss $250 million (Tk 1,925 crore) in the country every year. Low-lying Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to floods and erosion, with up to 6,000 hectares of land swallowed up annually. About 100,000 mostly poor rural people lose land, crops and even homes each year as a result, the global lender said in its press statement. “Sand-filled geo-textile bags piled in layers will help prevent riverbank erosion more cheaply and more effectively than conventional structures using concrete or stones,” said Natsuko Totsuka, water specialist with ADB’s South Asia Department. “We have already tried out this technology with much success elsewhere in Bangladesh.” The facility will also strengthen management of flood and erosion risks, and teach local communities to operate and maintain flood and riverbank protection infrastructure. The lender said the first tranche loan of $65 million (Tk 500 crore) will target badly needed structural and improvements in three high-priority areas. ADB will provide the remaining amount of loans in subsequent tranches, the statement reads. The ADB said another loan of $52 million (Tk 400 crore) —supported by combined co-financing of $42 million from the Strategic Climate Fund and the Water Financing Partnership Facility—will help eight vulnerable secondary coastal towns build up their climate resilience and provide examples for improved urban disaster preparedness. The Manila-based lender also said the coastal areas of Bangladesh, with a population of over 38 million people, are heavily exposed to cyclones, storm surges, and sea level rises, which appear to have become more frequent and extreme with the onset of climate change. - See more at: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_River-protection-project-to-be-implemented-with-ADB-credit_903_1_2_1_0.html#sthash.ihOqCtOi.dpuf