The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday (Feb 27) approved a big project to set up double-circuit 400 KV transmission lines to extend the high voltage power transmission infrastructures in the northern part of the country at a cost of Tk 33.22 billion to import power from India, Bhutan and Nepal in future.

The approval came from the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, reports BSS.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 13 projects were approved involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 124.6 billion.

“Of the total project cost, Tk 94.82 billion will come from the GoB portion, Tk 1.54 billion will come from the organization’s own fund while the rest Tk 28.24 billiob from project assistance,” he added.

Of the approved 13 projects, 10 are new while three others are revised projects.

The Planning Minister said once the transmission line project is implemented, it will be possible to import power from Indian 1600 MW Power plant to be set up by Adanai Group at Jharkhand.

The imported power will be later transmitted to Sylhet, Chattogram and other parts of the country from Kaliakoir.

Mannan said that the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) under the Power Division will implement the project by June, 2022.

Of the total project cost, Taka 14.24 billion will come from the GoB portion, Tk 1.53 billion from the organization’s own fund while the rest of Tk 17.45 billion as project assistance under the Indian $2 billion Line of Credit.

The main project objectives include setting up the transmission line for evacuating power from the proposed 2 x 800 MW power plant to be set up at Jharkhand in India by Adani Group.

The main project operations include erection of 120 kilometer 400 KV double-circuit transmission line from Boropukuria to Bogura, erection of 140 kilometer 400 KV double-circuit transmission line from Bogura to Kaliakoir, extension of two 400 KV AIS bay at the 400/230 KV power substation at Kaliakoir, and extension of two 230 KV AIS bay at Parbotipur 230 KV switching station.

Once the project is completed, it will also be possible to import power from Nepal and Bhutan through this transmission line in future.

About the implementation progress of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the July-January period of the current fiscal year, Mannan said the ADP utilization rate reached 34.43 percent during this seven-month period with an overall expenditure of Tk 622.82 billion.

The ADP implementation rate during the July-January period of FY18 was 33.35 percent with an expenditure of Tk 547.18 billion.

The Planning Minister said another project for constructing multi-storey buildings for the insolvent freedom fighters at upazila and district levels has been withdrawn from the meeting.

He said that the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has requested to withdraw the project proposal from the meeting following requests from the freedom fighters to build houses on their own homesteads.

“We remained committed to the freedom fighters and the ministry will come up with a revised project proposal in this regard,” he added.

Mannan said the ECNEC meeting approved another proposal to provide extra allowances for the scientists who are working at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has discouraged the authorities concerned to acquire land in densely-populated areas side by side directed the Road Transport and Highways Division to inform the ECNEC after drawing maps of the roads to be built in future.

Besides, the premier also directed this division to ensure drains along the roads as well as keeping specific places for toilets and places for rest for the passengers and vehicle drivers along the highways.

The Prime Minister also underscored the need for conducting dredging at Pashur River to maintain navigability at the Mongla Port channel round the year without harming the ecosystem.

The other projects approved in the meeting are Land acquisition for setting up Mirersarai Indian Economic Zone with Tk 8.46 billion, construction of Payra Bridge on Barishal-Patuakhali road, 2nd Revised with Tk 14.47 billion, Upgrading Mohipal-Choumuhoni portion of Feni-Noakhali National Highway into four-lane with Tk 7.47 billion, development of Sindukchhari-Mohalchhari portion of Mohalchhari-Sindukchhari-Jaliapara road with Tk 976.6 million, procurement of necessary machineries and equipments for Mongla Port with Tk 4.34 billion.

The other approved projects are construction of residential building for the Postal Department officials and employees in Dhaka, 1st Revised with Tk 3.77 billion, Flood control, water logging eradication and drainage development in Chattogram metropolitan with Tk 16.21 billion, Right embankment protection of Brahmaputra River at Chilmari and Ulipur upazilas with Tk 3.03 billion, Construction of Bridge over River Feni at Sonagazi and Mirersarai with Tk 6.63 billion, Production, protection and distribution of high quality paddy, wheat and jute seed at Farmers’ level through modern technology with Tk 2.7 billion, Capacity building of 64 technical school and colleges with Tk 15.34 billion and Establishment of 3rd factory under Essential Drugs Company Limited at Gopalganj, 2nd Revised with Tk 7.99 billion.