Economic Reporter :
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 12 development projects with an outlay of Taka 7,866 crore, including one for dredging and embankment protection of the Padma River.
The approval came at the fourth meeting of the ECNEC in fiscal 2018-19 held at NEC conference room in Sher-e-Banglanagar with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 7,075 crore from the national exchequer while the organization concerned will contribute Taka 7.98 crore and the remaining Taka 783 crore will come as project assistance, Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal told media after the meeting.
He said the dredging and embankment protection of the Padma River project involving Taka 1,483 crore would be implemented in Majhirchar of Doha Upazila via Narishabazar to Moksedpurd by June 2022.
Kamal said many important establishments and arable land have already gone into the river due to erosion. “If sufficient measures are not taken immediately, more establishments would be eroded by the river.”
Besides, the ECNEC cleared road development of Sonapur-Chairmanghat project to boost tourism in Swarnadwip.
The planning minister said the Sonapur-Chairmanghat road development project at a cost of Taka 168.69 crore has been taken to tap the tourism potentially of the Swarnadwip, Nijhum Dwip, Hatia and Bhasanchar.
Mentioning Sonapur-Chairmanghat road as part of two regional highways under the Noakhali Road department, Kamal said: “The project would not only boost the tourism in this area but also pave the way of easy transportation of different types of goods.”
On the other hand, the ECNEC okayed supply and installation of smart pre-paid meter for DESCO area with Taka 186 crore.
“Under the project, over 2 lakh smart pre-paid meter and online connectivity for it would be installed by 2020,” added the planning minister.
The other projects approved by the ECNEC are: Land acquisition (Araihazar in Narayanganj and Mirsarai) for Economic Zone with Taka 3,195 crore, Establishment of five training centers in five basic training centres, a fashion design institute and two market promotion centers under Bangladesh Handloom Board with Taka 117 crore, Establishment of Dr M A Wazed Mia Textile Engineering College in Pirganj with Taka 174 crore and Construction of Shishu Paribar and Chuta Moni Nibash with Taka 296 crore.
