ECNEC approves 13 projects worth Tk 29.95b

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Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Monday approved 13 projects with a total outlay of Tk 27.95 billion (2,795 crore), including Tk 2.58 billion (258 crore) in foreign aid, reports UNB.
The ECNEC also approved an additional Tk 2.0 billion (200 crore) for the ongoing Begunbari-Hatirjheel project in the city. With this allocation, the total project cost will rise to Tk 16.73 billion (1,673 crore) from the existing Tk 14.73 billion (1,473 crore).
Chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, the meeting at the Planning Commission was attended by advisers and secretaries of different ministries.
After the meeting, Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam told reporters that the additional allocation to the Begunbari-Hatirjheel project was given on urgent basis to meet the cost of acquiring extra 34 acres of land.
Normally, such allocation is approved in the revised budget. But considering the urgency of extra land acquisition, the government has given the approval instead of waiting until the revised budget comes.
"This allocation was made through an inter-sectoral adjustment," the Finance Adviser said.
The projects approved in the ECNEC meeting include `Construction of Upazila and Regional Server Stations for Electoral Data Base' with project cost of Tk 2.08 billion (208 crore) to set up voter ID card server stations at the upazila level.
Other projects include BIWTC's Ro-Ro Ferry and Pontoon rehabilitation at Tk 740 million (74 crore), Water supply programme project (Tk 1.61 billion), Transforming existing non-government schools into model schools in selected 306 upazila headquarters (Tk 4.66 billion), Dhaka University Special Development project (Tk 1.21 billion), Pabna Science and Technology University project (Tk 960 million), Barisal Shaheed Ziaur Rahman University project (Tk 950 million), Stipends for female students at higher secondary level (Tk 2.01 billion), Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital project (Tk 1.65 billion), Population Census and Homestead Census project 2011 (Tk 1.20 billion) and Construction of Academic building for selected schools (Tk 8.95 billion).