Dhaka, May 13 -- Decades of wait is all but over now as the government on Wednesday adopted the multipurpose Padma Barrage project meant to mitigate water-scarcity impacts in vast areas and facilitate irrigation, pisciculture and hydropower generation, officials say.

The 65-year-long-stalled water-management infrastructure's first phase with an estimated cost of Tk 334.74 billion was endorsed at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting Wednesday.

The official concept for a barrage over the mighty river was first initiated 65 years ago in 1961. The initial feasibility study was launched during the Pakistan era by the East Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority.

After Bangladesh's independence, the...