The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a power sector development project for Rajshahi area to improve the power distribution system along with reduction of system loss.

The Power Distribution System Development, Rajshahi Zone project involving Taka 915 crore would provide new power connection to nearly 2 Lakh new subscribers. Besides, it would also cut down the system loss by 4 per cent.

The project also aims to improve the qualitative standard and distribution system of the existing power system to improve the future demand of power in this region as well as giving new residential and industrial power connections.

The approval came at the 23rd ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal held at the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Banglanagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

State Minister for Finance and Planning M A Mannan briefed the newsmen about the outcome of the meeting.

He said the ECNEC approved a total of five development projects including the power sector with the outlay of Taka 1,205 crore.

‘Of the total project cost, the government will provide Taka 1,170 crore from the national exchequer while the organization concerned will contribute the remaining Taka 34.94 crore from own fund,’ he added.

The state minister said Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under the Power Division would implement the Power Distribution System Development, Rajshahi Zone project by December 2018.

Out of the total cost of Taka 915 crore, the government will give Taka 880.05 crore while Taka 34.94 crore will come from the organization's own fund.

‘Once the project is implemented, nearly 2 Lakh new subscribers would get power connections while the system loss would come down by 4 per cent,’ said Mannan, adding, ‘the new power connections is expected to rise by another 5 lakh in this zone by 2025.’

Under the project, he said, there will be renovation of some 1,808 km existing distribution lines alongside setting up of some 1,375 km new distribution lines.

Besides, there will be some 16 new power sub stations with 33/11 KV capacity, overhauling and development of some 28 power sub stations with 33/11 KV capacity, some 11 acre land acquisition and 49,150 cubic meter land development.

The day's ECNEC meeting gave nod to another project titled construction of 20-storey residential Shahid Sheikh Russell Tower Bhaban for the officials of Dhaka University with Taka 87.81 crore.

Bangladesh University Grants Commission and the University of Dhaka will jointly implement the project by June 2018.

Under the project, there will be some 152 flats for the officials of this University. The Building will be built near the BNCC building and Shibbari on the Dhaka University campus.

The other projects approved in the meeting are: Establishment of Jamalpur Textiles Institute (Tk 62.50 crore), Practical research on boosting crop production through expansion, spread and management of water efficient modern technology (Tk 39.02 crore) and Barisal Division small irrigation development project (Tk 101.18 crore).

Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were also present.