ECNEC approves nine projects involving Tk 136.39 billion

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday       approved nine projects with an estimated cost of Taka 13,639.01 crore (136.93 billion) including one for enhancing the capacity of Mongla Port at a cost of Taka 6,014.62 crore.
ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the projects at a meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the planning commission in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers, Planning Commission members attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.
Planning Minister MA Mannan later told reporters that the government would provide Taka 8,886.44 crore of the budgeted cost and Taka 293.16 crore will come from the concerned organization's own fund. The remaining fund of Taka 4,459.41 crore will come from project assistance. All the nine projects are new projects.
Mannan said Mongla Port Authority will implement the Mongla Port capacity building project in a bid to ensuring all modern shipping facilities for port users.Mongla Port project will get Taka 1,555.21 crore from the government exchequer while the remaining Taka 4,459.41 crore from the Indian Line of Credit. The new capacity building aims at meeting the growing local demand of container handling, in addition to meeting demands of importers from India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Planning Commission officials said once this project is implemented, it would be possible to handle additional 15 million tons of cargo and 4,00,000 TEUs of containers.
They said Mongla Port upgradation has been taken considering the upgradation of Dhaka-Mawa-Mongla Highway. Special economic zone adjacent to the Mongla Port, Padma Bridge construction, Khan Jahan Ali International Airport, Extension of Mongla EPZ, construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant also necessitated the port's capacity enhancement.
Major work components at Mongla Port include construction of container terminals at Jetty Number 1 and 2 of the port, construction of container handling yard and container delivery yard, construction of service vessel jetty, shed and office, extension of port building, MPA tower, port residential complex, mechanical workshop, equipment yard, and marine workshop complex.
More scanner machines at the ports and in other areas to be set up to ensure a strong waste management system as well as setting up Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) where it is necessary. It also includes constructing modern slaughter houses in the cities and towns.
Mannan said the Prime Minister also suggested for considering proposals from foreign firms or entrepreneurs to produce power from waste.
The other projects approved in the meeting are Rajshahi metropolis city integrated infrastructures development with Taka 2,931.62 crore, Freedom Fighter late Alhaj Kamal Uddin Road Development in Noakhali district with Taka 282.11 crore, Upgrading Karnaphuli Tunnel link road including Anwara upazila link road with Taka 407.08 crore.
They also include Shariatpur-Janzira-Naodoba (Padma Bridge approach road) development    with Taka 1,682.55 crore, Modernization of ports with necessary facilities at Paturia and Daulatdia with Taka 1,351.70 crore, Protecting the left river bank of Padma under Charghat and Bagha upazilas in Rajshahi with Taka 722.24 crore.
Projects also include Integrated Livestock Development at now defunct enclaves and char     areas with Taka 128.96 crore and Integrated Livestock Development at Haor areas with Taka 118.13 crore.