ECNEC okays five projects with TK 759cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved five development projects with an outlay of Taka 759 crore.

The approval was given at its 16th meeting of the current fiscal at NEC conference room in the city`s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, briefed newsmen about the outcome. He said: "Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 726.72 crore from the national exchequer while the remaining
Taka 32.40 crore would come as project assistance".

He informed that all the projects approved by the ECNEC are new.

The minister said the ECNEC cleared construction of "Bhumi Bhaban Complex" with Taka 139.96 crore to provide land related better services to the mass people with ease and comfort through bringing various land offices in the
capital in one complex. Under the project, he said, a 13-storey building having foundation of 20-storey and two basements will be built at the Land Record and Survey Department premises in the capital`s Tejgaon area as a "one
stop service center".

The Land Record and Survey Department along with the Department of Public Works will implement the project by June 2018.

The ECNEC also gave nod to "Construction of Rubber Dam for utilizing the surface water to boost Agricultural Production" with Taka 172 crore. The dam will be constructed by BADC by June 2020.

The project will be implemented at eight upazilas under five districts.

These are Lohagara and Anwara upazilas of Chittagong district, Chokoria and Ramu upazilas of Cox`s Bazar district, Bandarban Sadar, Naikhongchhari upazila, Doarabazar upazila under Sunamganj district and Bahubal upazila
under Habiganj district.

Another project, "Participatory Rural Development Project (PRDP) 3rd phase" with Taka 231.67 crore is to utilize local resources as well as help increasing the skills and efficiency of some 600 Union parishads for formulating local development plans.

The PRDP-III project has been undertaken based on the success of the PRDP-II project implemented from July 2010 to June 2015 at 200 unions under 85 Upazilas of all the 64 districts. Bangladesh Rural Development Board will
implement the PRDP-III project by June 2020.

Moreover, the Planning Minister said the ECNEC was also apprised of a project "Showcasing Bangladesh" for digitally displaying the development activities taken by the government before the mass people with Taka 14 crore.

Under the project, he said, LED display boards would be set up at crowded places in the capital like in front of the NAM Bhaban, Suhrawardy Uddyan, Bahadur Shah Park, Kamalapur Railway Station and Lunch Terminals.

The other projects approved in the meeting are: Expansion and modernization of Mymensingh Central Jail with Taka 127.13 crore and Flourish of the women entrepreneurs towards economic empowerment with Taka 88.36 crore.

Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.