ECNEC clears Rampal project component

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved a project involving Tk 462.57 crore to develop and erect boundary wall of the second block of the Rampal power plant project despite much controversy and concerns over the project.
The ECNEC, at a meeting held at the NEC conference room in the capital with its chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, approved a total of five projects yesterday involving Tk. 6,553.01 crore.
Of the 462.57 crore okayed for the ‘Land Development, Protection and Erection of the Boundary Wall of the Second Block of the Rampal Power Plant Project Areas’ Tk. 454.72 crore would come from the state exchequer and Tk. 7.85 crore from the implementing organisation’s own fund. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will implement the project by June 2017. According to the project summary, it aims to prepare land for setting up the 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant as well as protecting the project site from land grabbing and river erosion. Besides, 1,27,13,000 cubic metres of land will be developed, a 14,000-metre boundary wall constructed, and the project sites will be filled up by extracting sand from Ghasia Khali channel.

The Rampal power station is a proposed 1320-megawatt coal-fired power station to be built on over 1834 acres of land at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District. Environmental activists and experts have expressed concerns that the plant, less than 10 miles from the UNESCO world heritage site Sundarbans mangrove forest, , would lead to its environmental degradation from increased ship traffic, dredging, and pollution of air and water.
Bangladesh and India will equally share up to 30 per cent of the capital of this project as equity. The remainder of the capital, which might be equivalent to USD 1.5 billion, will be taken as bank loans with help from the NTPC.
Briefing reporters after the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said five projects were approved at the ECNEC meeting, with a total outlay of Tk. 6,553.01 crore. “Of the total project cost, Tk. 3,947.64 crore will come from the government exchequer, Tk. 17.85 crore from the organisation’s own fund, and Tk. 2,587.52 crore as project assistance.” Of the five projects approved, four are new, while one is a revised project.  The meeting approved the construction of the Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant, entailing an investment of Tk. 3,317.77 crore, to improve sewerage facilities for the growing number of Dhaka’s residents.
The ECNEC also approved construction of a Bangladesh-Myanmar Moitree Road (Balukhali-Ghundhum) border road, involving Tk. 54.55 crore, to be implemented by the roads and highways department by June 2017.
The proposed road would be set up at Ukhia upazila in Cox’s Bazar district and Nikhonchhari upazila in Bandarban district.
The other projects approved are the second phase of the South Western Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management project, at a cost of Tk. 482.10 crore, and the fourth revised Hatirjheel area Integrated Development Project, including Begunbari Khal, worth Tk. 2,236.02 crore.

ECNEC clears Rampal project component

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved a project involving Tk 462.57 crore to develop and erect boundary wall of the second block of the Rampal power plant project despite much controversy and concerns over the project. The ECNEC, at a meeting held at the NEC conference room in the capital with its chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, approved a total of five projects yesterday involving Tk. 6,553.01 crore. Of the 462.57 crore okayed for the Land Development, Protection and Erection of the Boundary Wall of the Second Block of the Rampal Power Plant Project Areas Tk. 454.72 crore would come from the state exchequer and Tk. 7.85 crore from the implementing organisations own fund. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will implement the project by June 2017. According to the project summary, it aims to prepare land for setting up the 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant as well as protecting the project site from land grabbing and river erosion. Besides, 1,27,13,000 cubic metres of land will be developed, a 14,000-metre boundary wall constructed, and the project sites will be filled up by extracting sand from Ghasia Khali channel. The Rampal power station is a proposed 1320-megawatt coal-fired power station to be built on over 1834 acres of land at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District. Environmental activists and experts have expressed concerns that the plant, less than 10 miles from the UNESCO world heritage site Sundarbans mangrove forest, , would lead to its environmental degradation from increased ship traffic, dredging, and pollution of air and water. Bangladesh and India will equally share up to 30 per cent of the capital of this project as equity. The remainder of the capital, which might be equivalent to USD 1.5 billion, will be taken as bank loans with help from the NTPC. Briefing reporters after the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said five projects were approved at the ECNEC meeting, with a total outlay of Tk. 6,553.01 crore. Of the total project cost, Tk. 3,947.64 crore will come from the government exchequer, Tk. 17.85 crore from the organisations own fund, and Tk. 2,587.52 crore as project assistance. Of the five projects approved, four are new, while one is a revised project. The meeting approved the construction of the Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant, entailing an investment of Tk. 3,317.77 crore, to improve sewerage facilities for the growing number of Dhakas residents. The ECNEC also approved construction of a Bangladesh-Myanmar Moitree Road (Balukhali-Ghundhum) border road, involving Tk. 54.55 crore, to be implemented by the roads and highways department by June 2017. The proposed road would be set up at Ukhia upazila in Coxs Bazar district and Nikhonchhari upazila in Bandarban district. The other projects approved are the second phase of the South Western Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management project, at a cost of Tk. 482.10 crore, and the fourth revised Hatirjheel area Integrated Development Project, including Begunbari Khal, worth Tk. 2,236.02 crore.