Ghorashal Power Plant cleared

The government has approved four development projects including the Ghorashal 365 Megawatt Combined Cycle Power Plant involving a total outlay of Tk 27.93 billion.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 April 2014, 04:01 PM
Updated : 8 April 2014, 04:01 PM

The projects were approved by the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Sher-e-Banglanagar on Tuesda.

Planning Commission Member Hedayetullah Al Mamun told reporters that of the total project cost of Tk 27.93 billion for the four projects, the government would provide Tk 9.14 billion.

Another Tk 17.66 billion would come as project assistance, and Tk 1.13 billion from related organisations.

The Ghorasal power plant project will cost Tk 25.11 billion, Mamun said. The government will provide Tk 7.45 billion, implementing organisations Tk 1.13 billion, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China would give a loan of Tk 16.53 billion.

The Power Development Board (PDB), the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, will execute the project by June 2016.

The power plant will add 365 megawatts to the national grid, easing the power shortage to an extent.

The country’s top economic policymaking body also approved the building of an academy for autistic children in Dhaka at a cost of Tk 540 million to bring them into mainstream education.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) is expected to have the project ready by December 2016.

The establishment of the National Institute of Advanced Practice Nurses has also been cleared. The project is estimated to cost Tk 1.28 billion.

The institute will train skilled nurses with an eye on the global demand for such professionals and to improve the domestic healthcare system.

The institute, to be set up in Mugda, near Dhaka, under the supervision of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, is to be completed by June 2018.
Of the total project cost, KOICA will provide Tk 1.12 billion as grant, while the rest of Tk 150 million will come from the government.

The economic body of the country also approved the establishment of National Science and Technology Building at a cost of Tk 990 million to be entirely borne by the government.

National Museum of Science & Technology and Department of Public Works will jointly implement the project, which is expected to be completed by June 2016.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Planning Commission members and concerned secretaries were present in the meeting.