ECNEC approves 600MW power import from India

FE Report
Country's highest economic-policy body approved Tuesday two projects on cross-border power-grid development, involving Tk 15.84 billion, to facilitate import of more power from neighbouring India.
With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC) in its meeting also endorsed another trans-border facility for trade between the two countries.
One of the first two projects is for capacity expansion of the existing Bangladesh (Bheramara)-India (Baharampur) power-transmission gridline at a cost of Tk 14.05 billion.
It is meant for importing 500-megawatt more power from the neighbouring country, Planning Commission officials said.
Currently, Bangladesh imports 500 megawatts of electricity through the existing power interconnector between the two countries.

Besides, the ECNEC endorsed the Tripura (India)-Comilla (South Sub-station, Bangladesh) gridline-installation project that costs Tk 1.79 billion.
The proposed Tripura-Comilla 43-kilometre 400-kilovolt grid will be installed to import 100MW electricity from the Palatana power plant in Tripura.
"The gridline will be laid by June 2016," one official said.
The ECNEC approved another project for constructing Rowmari-Tura 4.31-kilomtre land-port road at a cost of Tk 350.7 million for improving cross-border trade and business between India and Bangladesh.
The Tura land port in Kurigram district is currently utilised for border trade on a limited scale.
At Tuesday's meeting the economic policy-making body also approved a project on cultivation of 'kakra (crab)' and 'kuchiya' in some selected areas in Bangladesh and research thereon. The project cost is Tk 362.4 million.
Furthermore, the council gave its seal of endorsement on the revised Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Development Programme (HNPSDP) worth Tk 510.82 billion and BSCIC industrial town (Srimangal) development project involving Tk 401.4 million.
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