Ecnec gives go-ahead to five projects worth Tk 1,205cr

The Ecnec yesterday gave the nod to five projects worth Tk 1,205 crore, including one to develop electricity connection for around two lakh new subscribers in the Rajshahi zone.

Under the project, around 1.375 kilometre-long new transmission line will be laid and 1,808 km of old lines renovated.

The project, which will cost Tk 915 crore, will increase the load capacity of the transmission lines in the zone by 775 megawatt and decrease system loss by 4 percent.

Also at yesterday's meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), which was chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a Tk 63 crore project for setting up Jamalpur Textile Institute got the go-ahead.

The textiles sector needs 44,863 engineers but the country has 10,189, the planning ministry said in a statement.

The shortage of engineers is met by appointing textile engineers from India and Sri Lanka at present. Once up and running, the institute will produce 80 textile engineers and technologists a year.

The committee also gave the green light to a Tk 88-crore project for building a 20-storey residential building for Dhaka University staff.

The university has 900 staff, 119 of whom have accommodations. When the building, to be named Shaheed Sheikh Russel, is completed, 192 first-class employees of the university will get residences.

The Sheikh Russel Tower will be built in between BNCC and Shibbari, and every flat will be of 1,500 square feet.

The committee also approved a Tk 101 crore project to make the surface water fit for irrigating farm lands in the Barisal division.

Under the project, surface water will be retained by renovating canals and drains. The water will be used in the dry season to bring around 11,000 hectares of land under irrigation.