Chandpur project okayed at triple cost

The cabinet committee on government purchase yesterday approved Chandpur 150 megawatt combined cycle power project involving about Tk 1,006 crore which is more than three times the previously estimated cost.
It also approved a proposal to construct flats for government officials and low and middle-income group people in the capital in next three years for hire purchase.
The cabinet body at a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair okayed awarding contract for the power project to China Chenga Engineering Co Ltd.
Previously the deal for this project was won by Chinese company Harbin. But it was cancelled during the caretaker government's tenure when the company wanted to increase the project cost.
Harbin had originally proposed a cost of $45.20 million (around Tk 315 crore) for the project. But after signing the deal, it sought another $16 million that led to cancellation of the tender.
The purchase committee in August this year okayed setting up of a 150 MW combined cycle power project in Sylhet by Chinese firm mpany Shanghai Electric Company at a cost of around Tk 704 crore. The estimated cost of Chandpur project is Tk 300 crore more than that of the Sylhet project.
The committee yesterday approved additional expenditure proposed for purchase of jeeps with AC and other related expenses for upazila chairmen. Earlier, it was decided that 420 jeeps would be bought at a cost of Tk 33.30 lakh each. Now the price has been raised to Tk 35.39 lakh each in addition to Tk 80,000 for registration, Tk 40,000 for AC and Tk 58,000 for gas connection.
It also approved construction of three 16-storey buildings with 60 flats each at Mohammadpur in the city at a cost of Tk 47.66 crore.
According to the project proposal, the government would construct 1,020 flats (1,000 and 800 sq feet each) at Mohammadpur F-block for sale to small and middle income group people on hire-purchases basis.
Seventeen buildings, each 16-storey, would be constructed on a plot of about 5.51 acres. Initially, a proposal for building three such buildings was placed at yesterday's meeting.
The cabinet body also okayed proposed construction of a building with 78 flats costing Tk 23.67 crore.
The government would construct 182 flats at Lalmatia Housing Estate (1,250 and 1,060 sq feet each) for sale to government officials on hire-purchase basis. Of these, construction of 78 flats was okayed at yesterday's meeting.
Three proposals relating to construction of roads and drainage system at Purbachal housing project costing Tk 102 crore were also approved at the meeting.
A proposal for procurement of 10 railway locomotives for Tk 199 crore was approved yesterday.
And proposed import of one lakh tonnes of wheat at a cost of Tk 151 crore was also okayed.
Moreover, the cabinet committee gave nod to a proposal for government import of 1.5 lakh tonnes of Murate of Potash (MoP) from a Belarus company.