Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina observed that a conflicting situation is created when there is an operation of Power Development Board (PDB) and Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB or REB) is in the same area. Then, the Prime minister suggested avoiding those two organizations to operate in the same areas.
Sheikh Hasina made this decision on Tuesday while chairing a meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at the ECNEC conference room at Sherebangla Nagar, Dhaka.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said after the meeting that, the PM suggested avoiding operations in same areas afterward and rationalizing the tariff of the PDB and BREB in those areas where the operation of both the organizations exist.
In total, ECNEC approved 10 projects at a cost of Tk 22,876 crore of which Tk 8,668.18 crore will come from the state coffer, Tk 585.02 crore from implementing organizations’ own funds and Tk 13,623.11 crore as project aids.
The ECNEC approved a project titled ‘the Power Grid Network Strengthening Project’ which will be implemented by the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) by June 2021. Of the total project cost of Tk 13,703.31 crore for the project, the government will provide Tk 3,729.25 crore, while Tk 266.44 crore will come from the organization’s own fund and China will provide Tk 9,707.62 crore on G-to-G basis as project assistance.
The ECNEC meeting also approved the capacity strengthening, rehabilitation and intensifying of power distribution system (Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong and Sylhet Division) with an estimated cost of Tk 3,403.83 crore. Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) under the Power Division will implement the project by June 2019. The project will be implemented at 42 Palli Bidyut Samities. Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk 1,355.57 crore, Tk 4.27 crore will come from the organization’s own fund while the rest of Tk 2043.99 crore as project assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The ECNEC meeting also approved the ‘Capacity strengthening, rehabilitation and intensifying of power distribution system (Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barisal Divisions)’ project with an estimated cost of Tk 3,077.54 crore where ADB will provide Tk 1871.50 crore as project assistance. The BREB will implement the project in 36 Palli Bidyut Samities by June 2019.
Referring to the approval of the gas transmission capacity expansion Ashuganj to Bakhrabad (2nd revised) project with Tk 513.46 crore, the Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned to come up with more gas pipeline project for gas distribution since the price of steel is low now.
Other approved projects are: Establishment of BSCIC Industrial Park, Sirajganj’ (2nd revised) of Tk 628.10 crore, construction of flyover at Muradpur gate-2 to GEC portion (2nd revised) of Tk 696.34 crore, and construction of 398 residential flats in the sites of 20 abandoned houses in Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur areas at a cost of Tk 366.53cr.