ECNEC okays six projects

The government's highest economic policy-making body ECNEC approved Monday six projects including a costly one as its cost has been swelled more than three-fold from the original estimation.
Presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at its meeting revised the "Cox's Bazar-Teknaf marine drive road construction project" at a cost of Tk 4.90 billion, Tk 2.34 billion or 150 per cent higher than the original estimated cost.
The government undertook the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf marine drive road construction project in 2008 at a cost of Tk 1.56 billion to be implemented by June 2013. Later, its execution period has been extended till June 2014.
The ECNEC revised the project Monday again enhancing the cost to Tk 4.90 billion, a Tk 2.34 billion up from the original estimated cost.
The ECNEC also approved five other projects involving a total cost of Tk 15.17 billion.
Emerging from the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the ECNEC had approved four fresh projects and revised two ongoing ones.
Out of total Tk 20.07 billion for the six projects, different development partners will provide Tk 10.10 billion as aid and the remaining Tk 9.97 billion will be given by the government from its own exchequer, he said.
The ECNEC endorsed the "Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Programme (Tranche-I)" project at a cost of Tk 8.28 billion.
The state-owned Water Development Board will work to check the river erosion through flooding and other causes. The project will be implemented between April 2014 and December 2018.
The ECNEC also endorsed Tk 547.2 million for building headquarters of the Bangladesh Postal Department at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
The ECNEC endorsed two other fresh projects including Tk 4.57 billion cost "Irrigation management improvement project (for Muhuri irrigation)" and Tk 1.22 billion "Integrated water management project at West Gopalganj".
Another project which was revised at the ECNEC meeting Monday is "Construction of a 217.15 metres bridge on Chimbuk-Ruma road".
ECNEC members, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, secretaries and high officials of the Planning Commission were present at the meeting.