ECNEC approves 10 projects with Tk 4,621cr

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved 10 projects including flood and riverbank erosion risk management in Padma and Jamuna rivers involving Taka 4,621.34 crore.

The approval came at the ECNEC meeting with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The premier attended the meeting joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here while ministers, state ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were connected from the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Briefing the newsmen after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 10 projects were approved involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 4,621.34 crore.

“Of the total project cost, Taka 3,055.21 crore will come from the government while Taka 1,566.13 crore as project assistance,” he added.

Among the approved 10 projects, five are new while five others are revised ones.

Mannan informed that Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Ministry of Water Resources will implement the Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program (Project-2) with a cost of Taka 1,803.07 crore by December 2025.

He said the main goal of this project is to provide assistance to improve the standard of life, alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth of the people affected by erosion along the Jamuna and Padma rivers.

Under the project, he mentioned that the government will build flood and river erosion prevention management through structural development and enhancement of institutional capacity.

The government will also develop integrated management to prevent river erosion and increase sustainability in the project area, the minister added.

He went on saying that the main project operations include 30km riverbank protection, construction of 7.90km embankment, 40 km adaptation work and 6km emergency work.