The government yesterday approved five projects, including a revision for the Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project, with a total estimated cost of Tk6,553 crore.
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) also decided that of the total cost, the government will provide Tk3,947.64 crore from the public exchequer, the organisations concerned will give Tk17.85 crore from their own fund, and development partners will provide Tk2,587.52 crore.
Among the approved project was the fourth revised version of the Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project including Begunbari Khal – with an estimated cost of Tk2,236.02 crore.
Another key project that got approval at yesterday’s Ecnec meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant at a cost of Tk3,317.77 crore.
“The main objective of the project is to treat the sewage of that area through modern method along with protecting the environment of that area and the adjacent Hatirjheel project area,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal after the Ecnec meeting.
The sewage treatment plant would be set up at Khilgaon with the capacity of treating 500 million litres of sewage each day, while a sewage lifting station will be also set up. Dhaka Wasa will implement the project by December 2019.
Ecnec approved another project titled “Land development, protection and erecting boundary wall of the second block of Rampal Power Plant project areas” with an estimated cost of Tk462.57 crore.
Of the total project cost, Tk454.72 crore would come from the state exchequer, and Tk7.85 crore from the organisation’s own fund. Bangladesh Power Development Board will implement the project by June 2017.
According to the project summary, it aims to prepare land for setting up the 1320MW coal-fired power plant as well as protecting the project site from land grabbing and river erosion.
Besides, there will be 12,713,000 cubic metre land development, 14,000 metre boundary wall construction, and filling up of the project sites through extracting sand from Ghosi Khali channel through dredging.
Yesterday’s meeting also approved the construction of “Bangladesh-Myanmar Moitree Road (Balukhali-Ghundhum) border road construction” with Tk54.55 crore to be implemented by the Roads and Highways Department by June 2017.
The proposed road would be set up at Ukhia upazila under Cox’s Bazar district and Naikhongchhari upazila under Bandarban district.
Planning Minister Kamal said that once implemented, the road would establish a direct road link with Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries like China and Thailand. It would also improve trade and political relations with Myanmar, increase security through improving road connectivity in the bordering areas, ensure tourism development and develop internal road communication, he added.
The other approved project was the second phase of “South Western Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management” at a cost of Tk482.10 crore.
