The government has given the green light for a Tk 5.5 billion project to address water logging in capital Dhaka during the monsoon.
The approval came at the ECNEC meeting on Tuesday presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of 16 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 962.347 billion have been cleared.
"Of the total project cost, Tk 526.85 billion will come from the state exchequer, Taka 3.28 billion from respective the organization's fund while the rest of Tk 432.21 billion from project assistance," he added.
The ‘Extension of Dhaka City Drainage Network and Development of Canals Project’ will address the issue of water logging in the Dhanmondi, Hazaribagh, Sankar, Jigatala, Rayer Bazar in the South city while Mohammadpur, Shyamoli, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Darus Salam, Mirpur, Pallabi, Cantonment, Uttara and Airport area in the North, said Minister Kamal.
The canals in the area will undergo dredging as well as will be widened with construction of walkway. The project implemented by the Dhaka WASA is scheduled to complete by 2020.
Tuesday’s meeting also cleared nearly Tk 384 billion to further strengthen the primary education system.
The government will fund nearly Tk 256 billion while the rest will come as assistance from the World Bank, ADB, JICA, EU, DFID, Australian Aid, Canadian CIDA, Swedish CIDA, UNICEF and USH.
The Fourth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-4) by the primary ministry is expected to end by June 2023.
Planning Minister Kamal said apart from gaining successes in human resource development, attaining MDGs and raising per capita income, the government also emphasises on primary education as around 97 percent of the children now attend schools.
The ECNEC meeting also approved the Padma Bridge Rail Link (1st revised) Project with an overall estimated cost of Tk 392.468 billion to be implemented by June 2024.
A Tk 851 million project has received the nod for installing effluent treatment plants at the 14 state-owned sugar mills.
According to Kamal, the prime minister has instructed to use the factories for refining imported raw sugars during off seasons.
The other projects approved include the Roopsa 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, construction of 132/33 KV and 33/11 KV substation under DPDC Project, establishment of 500-Bed Hospital and Ancillary Buildings in Jashore, Cox's Bazar, Pabna, Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College and Jononeta Nurul Haque Modern Hospital Project, establishment of Ashuganj inland container river port, and construction of five RAB Complexes and one RAB Forces Training School Project.