Tk 875 crore projects approved
Solar street lights in 7 city corporations
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved six development projects involving Tk 875 crore, including one to introduce solar street lighting in seven city corporations.
The approval was given at a meeting of the Ecnec with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
"Of the total project cost, Tk 386 crore will come from the national exchequer while the remaining amount will come in the form of project assistance," acting Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam told reporters after the meeting.
Under Solar Street Lighting Programme in City Corporation project, the Power Division will introduce solar energy-driven LED technology in the streets of seven city corporations.
The project would cover a total of one thousand kilometre-long streets in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur city corporations.
The project would be implemented during January 2012-December 2015 with a cost of Tk 317 crore. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Tk 237 crore for the project.
While making recommendations for the project, the Planning Commission said it would help spread the use of renewable energy all over the country.
It is also commensurate with the Renewable Energy Policy 2008 which has fixed the renewable energy production target at 5 percent of the total energy generation by the year 2015 and 10 percent by the year 2020, the planning commission added.
The Ecnec meeting approved another project with a view to expand and develop water, sanitation and drainage system in Tongi Pourashava, including Tongi Ijtema ground, with a cost of Tk 94 crore.
The other projects approved at the meeting are: Installation of Off-Grid Wind-solar Hybrid System with HFO-based Engine Driven Generator in Haitya Island; Installation of 5 MW Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) Grid-Connected Power Generation Plant at Kaptai; Establishment of Bangabandhu Textile Engineering College project, 3rd revised and Digitalisation of land survey, record preparation and preservation.
Planning Minister AK Khandker, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, among others, were present at the meeting.
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