UNB, Dhaka :
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a Tk 782.63 crore project for acquiring some 1000 acres of land for setting up 1320 MW ultra super critical coal-based power plant in Dhankhali union under Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district.
The approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with its chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Of the seven projects approved, four are new while three others are revised projects.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that seven development projects involving Tk 2170.75 crore were approved today (Tuesday).
“Of the total project costs, Tk 1664.73 crore will come from government exchequer, Tk 314.91 crore from the organization’s own funds while Tk 191.11 crore as project assistance,” he added.
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan and the Planning Commission members attended the meeting.
The Planning Minister said that North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGC) will implement the Tk 782.63 crore project, titled ‘Land Acquisition, Land Development and Protection for Paira 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant’, by December 2015.
Under the project, he said that apart from 1000 acres of land acquisition and development, there will be 9 km River embankment construction and maintenance; 59 km 33 KV electricity line construction; construction of one 33/11 KV sub-station; 9 km boundary wall; 5 km approach road and 2 km internal road.
Mustafa Kamal said that once the process for land acquisition is completed, the work for the project would start, likely by a Chinese company.
Of the total project cost for the project, Tk 772.77 crore will come from the government exchequer and Tk 9.86 crore from the organization’s own fund.
The day’s ECNEC meeting approved another project titled ‘Roads, drain, footpaths development and construction for 1, 3-14 Sectors of Uttara Model Town’ with Tk 119.91 crore to be completed by June 2017. Of the total project cost, Tk 83.94 crore will come from the government exchequer while Tk 35.97 crore from the organization’s own fund.
Under the project, there will be 36 km road development, construction of 47 km drain, 21 km footpaths at Sector 1, and Sector 3-14 of Uttara Model Town.
The day’s ECNEC meeting gave nod to another project, titled ‘Climate Change Adaptation Project’ with Tk 141 crore of which Tk 70.50 crore will come from the government exchequer while Tk 70.50 crore from DANIDA.
Some 10 upazilas of five coastal districts like Patuakhali, Barguna, Barisal, Noakhali and Laxmipur will be covered by the project. Under the project, there will be 317 km roads/embankment re-sectioning, 20 km rural road development, construction of 6 km cc block road, re-excavation of 20 km canals alongside imparting training to 15,000 distressed and working women.
The other projects approved in the meeting are Sylhet Division Small Irrigation Development (Tk 138.06 crore); Tuber (Kondal) Crops Development Project; 2nd revised (Tk 594.36 crore), protecting Alatuli area of Chapainawabganj district from erosion of River Padma (Tk 274.18 crore); and Promotion of Services and Opportunities to the Disabled Persons in Bangladesh, 2nd revised (Tk 120.61 crore).Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission members, Secretaries and other high officials attended the meeting.
