The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Tuesday approved six development projects with an outlay of Taka 3,961 crore.
The approval came at the 4th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal briefed the newsmen about the outcomes of the meeting. He said, “The government will provide Taka 3,814 crore from the national exchequer while the organization concerned will contribute the remaining Taka 147 crore from own fund to meet the cost of six projects.” He said four projects are new while two are revised among the approved projects.
State Minister for Finance and Planning M A Mannan and Planning Commission members were present at the briefing.
The ECNEC approved the production and development of high quality seed of paddy, wheat and corn (2nd phase) with Taka 353.45 crore.
Under the project, the Planning Minister said, some 150,000 metric tons of standard quality cereal seeds including paddy, wheat and corn would be produced, processed and distributed among the farmers aiming to boost crop production and ensure food security.
Mustafa Kamal said annual demand for seed is 370,000 metric tons of which around 37 per cent could be met after completion of the project. Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) will implement the project at 166 upazilas under 35 districts in six divisions by June 2020.
Another project approved by the ECNEC is “procurement of dredgers and other related equipments for dredging rivers of Bangladesh” (1st revised) with an outlay of Taka 1,253 crore to be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board by December 2016.
Under the project, the Planning Minister said, there would be procurement of 21 dredger sets with 650 mm diameters, 500 mm diameters and 250 mm diameters.
Mustafa Kamal also informed some 216 dredgers would be required for carrying out capital dredging across the country for which around Taka 31,000 crore would be needed.
The ECNEC also gave nod to another project titled “Damaged CC roads, drains and footpath development of five areas under Dhaka South City Corporation” with Taka 250 crore. Out of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 175 crore while Taka 75 crore would come from the organization’s own fund.
Under the project, there will be road development of some 169 kilometers, some 187.63 kilometers of drain construction and footpath development of some 25.19 kilometers. Dhaka South City Corporation will implement the project by June 2017.
First revision of the “Kalukhali-Bhatiapara section rehabilitation and Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara new railway track construction” project approved by the ECNEC with Taka 2023 crore to be implemented by the Ministry of Railways by December 2017.
Under the project, new rail track would be set up on Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara route linking rail network with Kalukhali-Bhatiapara and Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara section.
The other projects approved in the meeting are creating physical facilities for transfer of technology and innovation of BCSIR with Taka 36.63 crore, expansion of BCS administration academy building and extension of training facilities with Taka 44.60 crore.
Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.
