Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved the ‘Smaller water resources development (2^nd phase)’ project involving an estimated cost of Tk 1,285.96 crore, aiming to boost agricultural production and thus increase the income of farmers through enhancing non-farm activities.

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

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of eight projects were approved today involving an estimated cost of Tk 4,979.35 crore.

‘Of the total project cost, Tk 4,069.34 crore will come from the national exchequer, while Tk 51.16 crore will from the organisation’s own fund and the remaining Tk 858.85 crore from project assistance,’ he said.

Of the approved eight projects, seven are new while one is a revised project.