Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic of Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved the 'Countrywide pond and canal development project' with an estimated cost of Tk 1,334.95 crore, aiming to preserve surface water through development and re-excavation of ponds and canals.

The approval came from the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan said nine projects were approved today with an overall cost of Tk 10,331.75 crore. "The cost of all the projects will come from the national exchequer," he said.

Of the approved nine projects, five are new while four are revised ones, he said.

The junior minister said the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division (LGD) will implement the pond and canal development project by June 2023 in 400 upazilas under 56 districts of eight divisions.

According to the Planning Commission, the Integrated Water Resources Management Unit (IWRMU) under the LGED made a district-wise list of ponds and canals after making in-field inspections.

As per the survey, there are some 14,910 khas ponds, 3,493 institutional ponds and 6,536 khas canals across Bangladesh.

Out of those, 921 Khas canals (2,372 km) and 1,611 institutional ponds (1702 acres) will be re-excavated.

Once the project is implemented, Mannan said it would help to preserve surface water, improve the drainage system and forest management through tree plantation and thus maintain the environmental balance and help handle the flood and excess rain water.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to enforce strict monitoring during the implementation of the project so that no irregularity can take place.

The prime minister also suggested involving local public representatives, including MPs, upazila and union council chairmen, to ensure its smooth implementation.

The ECNEC meeting also approved the 'Construction of Somajseba Complex in 64 districts (22 districts in 1st phase)' project entirely with government fund. The Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare will implement the project by June 2020.

The other projects approved at the meeting are primary education stipend project, 3rd phase, with Tk 6,923.06 crore (1st revised), upgrading Begumganj-Sonapur portion of Feni-Noakhali highway into four-lane with Tk 329.22 crore, Upgrading Sirajganj town portion of Nokla-Sirajganj-Saydabad regional highway into four-lane and the rest of two lane with Tk 264.26 crore, Construction of Bangladesh-Myanmar Moitree road (Balukhali-Ghundhum) border road, 1st revised, with Tk 114.95 crore, Construction of Kushtia road bypass road, 2nd revised, with Tk 106.36 crore, East-west road construction from Rajshahi-Naogaon main road to Mohonpur Rajshahi Natore road, 1st revised, with Tk 182.68 crore and Left riverbank protection of Dhaleshwari River under Delduar Upazila in Tangail with Tk 114.27 crore.

Ministers, state ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.