ECNEC okays six projects involving Tk 3,961cr
BSS
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved six development projects with an outlay of Tk 3,961 crore, reports BSS.
The approval came at the 4th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room in the citys Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal briefed the newsmen about the outcomes of the meeting. He said, The government will provide Tk 3,814 crore from the national exchequer while the organisation concerned will contribute the remaining Tk 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 MA 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 Tk 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 Tk 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 Tk 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 Tk 250 crore. Out of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk 175 crore while Tk 75 crore would come from the organisations own fund.
