The government is going to provide electricity supply to 0.30 million new customers in the country's south-western (SW) region, as ECNEC approved a Tk 8.32 billion project in this regard Tuesday.
Presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project along with four other projects at its meeting. The combined cost of the five development projects are Tk 15.36 billion.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said ECNEC approved the Tk 8.32 billion project of the state-owned West-Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL) to install 1,858 kilometres electricity distribution lines to connect some 0.3 million new customers.
Under the 'Power distribution strengthening project', WZPDCL will install the distribution lines in 41 upazilas of 21 districts in the country's south-western region by June 2018.
"Since the country's economy is growing, the electricity demand is also increasing. The government is committed to ensure power supply for all by 2021," he added.
Under the project, WZPDCL will also rehabilitate 777 km existing distribution lines and 11 sub-stations as well as set up three new sub-stations.
Currently, the state-owned power distribution company has installed 9,970 km distribution lines in 21 districts under its coverage.
ECNEC also approved the 'Expansion of BSCIC industrial town of Rajshahi' at a cost of Tk 530 million at the meeting.
Under the project, BSCIC will acquire 30 acres of land and develop 200 industrial plots there.
ECNEC also revised the 'Construction of two jails on Dhaka-Mawa highway at Keraniganj project' at Tk 4.06 billion, the 'River bank protection at Lalmohan in Bhola (2nd phase) project' at Tk 1.34 billion, and the 'Further development of the BUET project' at Tk 1.10 billion.
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