The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a Tk3,076.22 crore project to enhance the capacity and ensure modernization of distribution network of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (Breb), which is expected to benefit and ensure uninterrupted power supply to some 3.43 million consumers in Khulna Division.
The approval came from the 24th meeting of the Ecnec in the current fiscal year (FY21) held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The prime minister chaired the meeting virtually from Ganabhaban.
Ministers, state ministers and other officials concerned attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the Ecnec approved a total of ten projects on Tuesday with an overall estimated cost of Tk11,901.33 crore.
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“Of the total project cost, Tk8,991.44 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh, Tk809.98 crore form the respective organizations’ own fund and the rest Tk2,099.91 crore as loan from foreign sources,” he added.
Of the ten approved projects, nine are new while one is a revised project.
The planning minister said the Breb under the Power Division will implement the project titled “Modernization of Power Distribution System and Capacity Enhancement of the Breb (Khulna Division)” by June 2025.
“Of the total project cost, Tk567.26 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh, Tk808.88 crore from the respective organization’s own fund while the rest Tk1,700.07 crore as project assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB),” he added.
Objectives
He said the main objectives of the project are enhancing the network capacity of the Breb and its upgradation, meeting the growing demand for power, ensuring an uninterrupted, reliable, cost efficient power distribution system and, thus, reducing the system loss in power distribution.
The project area covers nine Palli Bidyut Samities of the Breb — Bagerhat, Jessore 1, Jessore 2, Jhenaidah, Khulna, Kushtia, Magura, Meherpur and Satkhira, he informed.
He said the project will also help improve household incomes by reducing expenses on kerosene for cooking as well as lighting and providing opportunities for energy-based economic activities.
MA Mannan mentioned that the demand for power is increasing all over the country including in Khulna Division, so there is a need for enhancing the capacity of distribution network.
“Under the circumstances, the project has been framed and it will cover almost the entire Khulna Division,” he said, adding that standard power distribution network would be developed under the project.
He said the main project operations include construction of 51 numbers of 33/11kv new power substations, erection of 33kv new/1161km underground lines, 11kv new/10,685km underground lines, installation of 1,300 insulated conductors, conversion of 3,300km lines from LT to HT, conversion of 2,874km HT 1 phase to 3 phase and land purchase of 2,040 decimals.
Other projects approved on Tuesday
The other projects approved in the meeting are Establishment of Telecommunication Network for Economic Zones, 1st phase, with Tk95.12 crore; Construction of Panguchi Bridge over River Panguchi on Signboard-Morolganj-Rayenda-Shoronkhola-Bogi road with Tk912.33 crore; Construction of Sheikh Russell Mini Stadiums at Upazila Level, 2nd phase, with Tk1,649.32 crore; Construction of Multi-Storey Building of the Department of Public Libraries with Tk524.25 crore; Establishment of Super Specialized Hospital under BSMMU, 1st revised with Tk1,561.18 crore; Road development, Construction of Bridges and Culverts from Karigarpara to Bilaichori under Rangamati district with Tk338.54 crore; Development Of Important Rural Infrastructures of Comilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts with Tk2,500 crore; Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project in Patiya upazila in Chittagong district with Tk1,158.36 crore and Rehabilitation and Expansion of Command Areas of Teesta Irrigation Project with Tk1,452.33 crore.
