ECNEC approves 4 projects with Tk 534.34cr ECNEC approves 4 projects with Tk 534.34cr News Desk
The Executive Committee of the National
Economic Council (ECNEC) Tuesday approved
a total of four projects involving an
overall estimated cost of Taka 534.34
crore, including a new scheme for
conservation and development of local
species of fish and snails with Taka
202.04 crore.
The approval came from a meeting of the
ECNEC held with its Chairperson and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The premier along with Finance Minister
AHM Mustafa Kamal and Planning Minister MA
Mannan joined the meeting virtually from
her official Ganobhaban residence while
the ministers, state ministers and others
concerned joined the meeting from the NEC
Conference room in the city’s Sher-e-
Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, the
planning minister said, “A total of four
projects were approved today involving an
overall estimated cost of Taka 534.34
crore. Of the total project cost, Taka
440.94 crore will come from the government
of Bangladesh while the rest Taka 93.40
crore as project loan.”
Of the approved four projects, one is new
while three others are revised projects.
Mannan said the main objectives of the
project for preservation of local fish
species and snails are to protect,
preserve and thus boost the production of
local fish species alongside snails.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was
highly excited over the incorporation of
snails in this project as she mentioned
that slacked lime (Chun) is prepared from
snail shells which is usually consumed
with betel leaf and also is a source of
calcium.
Mannan said the premier was also
optimistic about the cultivation of
oysters as pearls are being extracted from
those.
“The larger and ultimate goal of the
government is to preserve the local
species,” he added.
The Department of Fisheries under the
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock will
implement the project by June 2024 at some
49 upazilas under 10 districts of the
South-Western region of the country.
The main project objectives include
raising the internal water bodies fish
production of those areas to 4.46 lakh
metric tons from 3.83 lakh metric tons,
holding some 392 local fish species
farming exhibitions alongside 15 snail
exhibitions, holding some 110 paddy field
fish farming demonstrations alongside 392
fish farming demonstrations at pans and
capacity development of some 1,08,847
beneficiaries.
Planning Commission member Md Zakir
Hossain Akand said once the project is
implemented, it would help boost the
production of snails in the country
alongside saving the sweet water fishes
from extinction. He informed that this is
for the first time a project has been
undertaken incorporating snails.
He mentioned that fish sanctuaries would
be created under the project while some
pilot projects would also be undertaken
under this project.
Regarding the approval of the Urban
Resilience Project (URP): RAJUK portion,
1st revised with an additional cost of
Taka 106.75 crore, the planning minister
said a map will be prepared for Dhaka
under the project through which it would
be possible to know which areas are more
prone to disasters like earthquakes.
He said with the latest revision, the
capacity of RAJUK would be further
enhanced alongside others concerned so
that any possible earthquake could be
faced in a much better way.
About the 1st revision of the
Infrastructural Development of Rajshahi
University with an additional cost of Taka
147.12 crore, the Planning Minister said
the project would help meet the
accommodation problem of the female
students at the university with the
construction of new halls. Besides,
emphasis is being given on the project to
strengthen the infrastructures of science
and agriculture faculties.
The day’s ECNEC meeting also approved the
2nd revise of the approach road widening
and development of other necessary
infrastructures of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujib Safari Park, Gazipur with an
additional cost of Taka 78.43 crore.
The planning minister said the entrance of
the Safari Park is now narrow and it would
be further widened through acquisition of
necessary land. “We want to upgrade this
Safari Park and make it more modern and
beautiful.
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