Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved 10 development projects involving Taka 3,692 crore.

Among the projects, the "School Feeding Programmes in Poverty Stricken Areas" aims at ensuring supply of nutritious food for 2.64 million primary school children across the country.

The approval was given at the ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room of the city's Sher-E-Bangla Nagar with Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The school feeding project will require a cost of Taka 1,574 crore. The project aimed at increasing primary school enrolment and attendance rate along with ensuring students, improved health and learning capability.

Under the project, each of 2.64 million learners of government and registered non-government primary school, community school, Ibtedayee Madrasa, Shishu Kollayan Trust School and approved non-government primary school of 72 selected Upazilas under six divisions will have 75 gram fortified biscuits on every schooling day.

The ECNEC approved another project "Construction of Two Compressor Stations at Ashuganj (Brahmanbaria) and Alenga (Tangail)" in order to improve the country's gas supply system.

The project cost is Taka 1,494 crore. ADB will provide Taka 919 crore for the project.

Planning Division Secretary (In-charge) Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam told newsmen after the meeting.

He informed that the 10 development projects will require a total cost of Taka 3,692 crore, of which Taka 1,898 crore will come from the national exchequer while the remaining Taka 1,794 crore will come as project assistance.

The other projects approved in the meeting are: Up-gradation of Barishal Textile Institute into Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabat Textile Engineering College Project (Taka 105 crore-GoB); Communication Campaign on Children and Women Development Project (Taka 202 crore, GoB-29 crore, PA-173 crore); Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Capabilities of IMED Project (Taka 71 crore-GoB); Sweet Water Shrimp Culture Expansion Project (Taka 56 crore- GoB); Construction of 341 meter PC Girder Bridge on Dhaleshwari River under Austogram Upazilla of Kishoregonj District Project (Taka 45 crore-GoB); Sheikh Rasel Aviary and Eco Park establishment, Rangunia, Chittagong (2nd revised) Project (Taka 34 crore-GoB); Construction of 2 PC Girder Bridge and 4 Baily bridge super structure on Ullapara-Pornimagati-Tarash and Porbari-Kamarkhand-Nalka road project (34 crore-GoB) and Establishment of 10 Textile Vocational Institutes Project (Taka 73 crore-GoB).

Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, members of the Planning Commission, secretaries and officials concerned were present in the meeting.

Ends/AMA/22/01/13