UNB, Dhaka :
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a Tk 1,381.45 crore ‘Urban Resilience Project (DDM Part, DNCC Part, Rajuk Part and PCMU Part) aiming to reduce the impacts and losses of natural disasters like earthquake in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Sylhet cities.
The approval came from the 31st Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of seven projects were approved today with a total outlay of Tk 2003.07 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Tk 652.83 crore will come from the national exchequer, Tk 18.14 crore from the organization’s own fund while Tk 1,332.10 crore as project assistance,” he said adding that all the approved seven projects are new ones.
The Planning Minister said the ‘Urban Resilience Project’, a World Bank-supported umbrella project, aims to strengthen the capacity of the relevant government agencies to efficiently and effectively respond to emergency events in Dhaka metropolitan development and Sylhet metropolis areas.
Besides, the project aims to strengthen systems to reduce the vulnerability of future building construction in the two cities.
Out of the total cost of Tk 1,381.45 crore for the Urban Resilience Project, Tk 49.35 crore will come from the public coffer while Tk 1,332.10 crore or around $ 173 million as project assistance from the World Bank.
Department of Disaster Management, Dhaka North City Corporation, Rajuk, Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU) of the Planning Division will implement the project from July 2015 to June 2020 to be implemented in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Sylhet city corporation areas.
Since Bangladesh falls into a quake-prone country, AHM Mustafa Kamal said that necessary measures would have to be taken to reduce the impact and losses of possible tremors.
Under the project, he said, the capacity of the government agencies concerned would be enhanced through bringing those under comprehensive training programmes.
The Planning Minister said Rajuk under the project would formulate risk-prone land use plan. Besides, it will conduct land zoning in these cities through which it will be possible to determine which areas are suitable for constructing multistory buildings.
Earlier in December 2011, the ERD had requested the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) of the World Bank to lend support to Bangladesh for strengthening its capacity to tackle disasters.
Following such a request, the Washington-based lending agency through appointing an international consultation firm conducted a comprehensive pre-appraisal or pre-investment study.
Considering the necessity of effective response to urban disasters, reinforcing the existing infrastructure and ensuring resilience construction aspects, the World Bank suggested undertaking such investment project.
Out of the major project activities under various components, there will be establishment of the national disaster management research and training institute (NDTRI) to increase national capability of disaster management methods, setting up of an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in the capital for disaster management alongside setting up of satellite control rooms in 10 zonal offices, establishing an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in Sylhet, improving building code enforcement within Rajuk jurisdiction.
The day’s Ecnec meeting approved two separate projects for rehabilitation and development of level crossing gates of western and eastern zones of Bangladesh Railway in a bid to ensure safe train communication as well as reducing the risk of accidents.
Bangladesh Railway will implement both the projects by June 2017 as Tk 47.84 crore has been allocated against the western zone project and Tk 49.34 crore for the eastern zone project.
Under both the projects, there will be appointment of some 851 gatekeepers at 326 level crossings in western zone of BR while some 1038 gatekeepers at 346 level crossings in Eastern Zone.
The other projects approved at the meeting are procurement of cold recycling plant and equipments for maintenance of the major roads under Dhaka South City Corporation with Tk 51.82 crore, increasing crop intensity at Sylhet region with Tk 74.85 crore, rehabilitation of the damaged polders under Cox’s Bazar district with Tk 259.76 crore and protection of both embankment of Sangu and Chadkhali rivers under Chandanaish and Satkania upazilas of Chittagong district with Tk 138.01 crore.
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan was also present at the briefing.
Ministers, State Ministers, and Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a Tk 1,381.45 crore ‘Urban Resilience Project (DDM Part, DNCC Part, Rajuk Part and PCMU Part) aiming to reduce the impacts and losses of natural disasters like earthquake in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Sylhet cities.
The approval came from the 31st Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of seven projects were approved today with a total outlay of Tk 2003.07 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Tk 652.83 crore will come from the national exchequer, Tk 18.14 crore from the organization’s own fund while Tk 1,332.10 crore as project assistance,” he said adding that all the approved seven projects are new ones.
The Planning Minister said the ‘Urban Resilience Project’, a World Bank-supported umbrella project, aims to strengthen the capacity of the relevant government agencies to efficiently and effectively respond to emergency events in Dhaka metropolitan development and Sylhet metropolis areas.
Besides, the project aims to strengthen systems to reduce the vulnerability of future building construction in the two cities.
Out of the total cost of Tk 1,381.45 crore for the Urban Resilience Project, Tk 49.35 crore will come from the public coffer while Tk 1,332.10 crore or around $ 173 million as project assistance from the World Bank.
Department of Disaster Management, Dhaka North City Corporation, Rajuk, Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU) of the Planning Division will implement the project from July 2015 to June 2020 to be implemented in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Sylhet city corporation areas.
Since Bangladesh falls into a quake-prone country, AHM Mustafa Kamal said that necessary measures would have to be taken to reduce the impact and losses of possible tremors.
Under the project, he said, the capacity of the government agencies concerned would be enhanced through bringing those under comprehensive training programmes.
The Planning Minister said Rajuk under the project would formulate risk-prone land use plan. Besides, it will conduct land zoning in these cities through which it will be possible to determine which areas are suitable for constructing multistory buildings.
Earlier in December 2011, the ERD had requested the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) of the World Bank to lend support to Bangladesh for strengthening its capacity to tackle disasters.
Following such a request, the Washington-based lending agency through appointing an international consultation firm conducted a comprehensive pre-appraisal or pre-investment study.
Considering the necessity of effective response to urban disasters, reinforcing the existing infrastructure and ensuring resilience construction aspects, the World Bank suggested undertaking such investment project.
Out of the major project activities under various components, there will be establishment of the national disaster management research and training institute (NDTRI) to increase national capability of disaster management methods, setting up of an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in the capital for disaster management alongside setting up of satellite control rooms in 10 zonal offices, establishing an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in Sylhet, improving building code enforcement within Rajuk jurisdiction.
The day’s Ecnec meeting approved two separate projects for rehabilitation and development of level crossing gates of western and eastern zones of Bangladesh Railway in a bid to ensure safe train communication as well as reducing the risk of accidents.
Bangladesh Railway will implement both the projects by June 2017 as Tk 47.84 crore has been allocated against the western zone project and Tk 49.34 crore for the eastern zone project.
Under both the projects, there will be appointment of some 851 gatekeepers at 326 level crossings in western zone of BR while some 1038 gatekeepers at 346 level crossings in Eastern Zone.
The other projects approved at the meeting are procurement of cold recycling plant and equipments for maintenance of the major roads under Dhaka South City Corporation with Tk 51.82 crore, increasing crop intensity at Sylhet region with Tk 74.85 crore, rehabilitation of the damaged polders under Cox’s Bazar district with Tk 259.76 crore and protection of both embankment of Sangu and Chadkhali rivers under Chandanaish and Satkania upazilas of Chittagong district with Tk 138.01 crore.
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan was also present at the briefing.
Ministers, State Ministers, and Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.
