The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved seven development projects involving Tk 3,190 crore including one project to build eight food silos having capacity of four million metric tons.
The approval came from a meeting of the ECNEC held at the NEC
conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with Minister Sheikh
Hasina in the chair,
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that of the total project costs of Tk 3,190 crore, Tk 631.07 crore will come from the government exchequer while the remaining Tk 2,558.93 crore will come as project assistance.
About the ‘Modern Food Silos Construction Project’ to be completed by June 2020 under the Ministry of Food with a cost of Tk 1919.97 crore, he said the IDA of the World Bank will provide Tk 1916.62 crore for the project as aid while the rest Tk 3.35 crore will come from the government exchequer.
AHM Mustafa Kamal, popularly known as Lotus Kamal, said that the country’s cereals production is now about 38 million metric tons whereas the storage capacity is only around 18 million metric tons.
Under the Modern Food Silos Construction project, eight silos-six for rice and two for wheat-will be constructed. These silos will be constructed in Madhupur, Ashuganj, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barisal, Chittagong, Narayanganj and Bhairab.
The day’s ECNEC meeting approved another project, titled ‘Expansion of Ambulance Services for the Fire Services and Civil Defense’ at a cost of Tk 34.82 crore to be entirely borne from the government exchequer. Under the project, some 60 ambulances will be provided to 54 fire service stations to upgrade their services. Such ambulances would be provided gradually to the other fire service stations.
Besides, the ECNEC meeting approved another project, ‘Establishment of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and Integrated Maritime Navigation System (EGIMNS)’, at a cost of Tk 370.89 crore under which six new lighthouses would be built in the coastal areas, each 60 meters high.
Asked about the possible cut in the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) in the current fiscal year, the Planning Minister said the projects which are expected to be completed this year alongside those in the thrust sectors are unlikely to see any cut. “We’ll try our best to utilize the full ADP as there is no such fund constraints,” he said.
Mustafa Kamal reiterated that his Ministry would work with utmost integrity and transparency, allowing no room for corruption.
On a question about the ongoing renovation works for the ICC T20 World Cup Cricket, he declined to make any comment.
Replying to another question on the Padma Bridge Project, the Planning Minister said he is not aware why the World Bank did not turn up with their funding. “But, I can say that the government has not committed any offense in this respect and no violation of law has occurred.”
