The government on Tuesday approved a Tk8.75bn project to develop climate resilient infrastructures in eight coastal municipalities of the country.
The municipalities are Pirojpur, Mothbaria, Borguna, Amtali, Golachipa, Kalapara, Bhola and Doulatkhan.
The approval of the project came at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Under the project titled “Coastal Town Infrastructure Development,” construction of 106km road, 194km water supply pipeline, 51 community latrines, toilets in 10 primary schools and development of 85km drainage system would be completed.
Besides, capacity building activities of the municipalities would be strengthened to expedite operational system and create resilience to combat climate change effects.
Of the total expenditure, the Asian development Fund (ADF), Strategic Climate Fund and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will provide over Tk7bn.
The Ecnec meeting approved total 17 projects worth Tk45.79bn.
“Of the total outlay, Tk29.37bn will come from the national exchequer and the remaining Tk16.42bn as project assistance,” said planning division secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam.
Another project was given nod to introduce around 150,000 pre-paid electricity meters in Mymensingh and Comilla cities to improve the quality of customer service and stop revenue evasion.
Germany will provide a loan of more than Tk1bn to implement the two and half year project.
The pre-paid metering system is expected to ensure 100% revenue income and reduction of non-technical loss in the areas.
It would also improve BPDB’s weak management and remove customers’ harassment on bill payment.
The other projects approved at the meeting included establishment of Paikgachha agriculture college project (Tk450m);expansion of modern small scale irrigation system in greater Rangpur district (Tk340m), construction of two bridges over Brahmaputra River under Islampur Upazilla of Jamalpur district (2nd revised) project (Tk2bn).
