Ecnec okays purchase of 17 dredgers

The government is going to purchase 17 dredgers at a cost of Tk 1,949 crore for the development of the country’s river routes.
Some 21,600 cubic kilometre river routes will be dredged a year under this river dredging project. A high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister has been formed earlier to implement the project.
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting yesterday approved the project as part of the government plan to dredge the country’s 310 rivers to bring back navigability, control floods, and ensure proper irrigation.
Six of the 17 dredgers, likely to be procured from India by mid 2012, will cost Tk 639 crore. Of the cost, $71.69 million (Tk 472 crore) will come from the $1 billion Indian credit and the government will provide the rest of the money.
Of the six, one will be used at Mongla port, while the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will use three and Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) two.
Another 11 dredgers will be procured with Tk 1310 crore of government fund by June 2012.
Meeting sources said the prime minister asked the ministries concerned to prepare a detailed plan including how to use the dredgers and the earth excavate.
Planning ministry sources said the government has already prepared several projects for river dredging. One of the projects will cost nearly Tk 12,000 crore and the government has already sought donors’ assistance to implement it.
The Ecnec meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also okayed a project for import and export of power between Bangladesh and India. The 400 KV grid interconnection between Bangladesh (Bheramara) and India (Baharampur) will cost Tk 1,079 crore.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Tk 700 crore and the remaining amount will come from the government exchequer. The project is expected to be completed by June 2012.
Meeting sources said electricity will be imported from India under the project and a provision has been incorporated allowing Bangladesh to export power to India if it has surplus.
The meeting also gave consent to Tk 91 crore Bajunia-Gandhasur-Satpar-Hatiara-Ramdia road and Tk 77 crore Goalando-Faridpur-Tarail road development projects, Tk 267 crore Panchuria-Faridpur-Bhanga railway reconstruction project and Tk 765 crore gas production project.

Courtesy of The Daily Star