551
Published on June 26, 2015
The "Urban Resilience Project" mainly eyed to strengthen the capacity and skill of different government institutions so they can take rapid measures during disaster to reduce the losses of lives and properties.
Under the project, there will be establishment of the national disaster management research and training institute (NDTRI) to increase national capability of disaster management methods, setting up of an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in the capital for disaster management alongside setting up of satellite control rooms in 10 zonal offices, establish an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in Sylhet and improving building code enforcement within Rajuk jurisdiction.
RAJUK, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Department of Disaster
Management and Planning Commission will jointly implement the project by 2020 at a cost of Taka 1,381 crore.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved the project at its 31st meeting of the current fiscal at the NEC Conference room in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, told newsmen the ECNEC approved a total of seven development projects including the urban resilience with a outlay of Taka 2,003 crore.
"Of the total cost, the government will provide Taka 652.83 crore from the national exchequer while Taka 1,332 crore would come as project assistance and the organization concerned will contribute Taka 18.14 crore from its own fund," informed Kamal.
All the seven schemes approved are new projects.
State Minister for Finance and Planning M A Mannan was present at the briefing.
Commenting on the urban resilience project, the planning minister said it's an umbrella project supported by the World Bank aims to strengthen systems to reduce the vulnerability of future building construction in the two cities.
To meet the cost of the Urban Resilience Project, the government will provide Taka 49.35 crore while Taka 1,332.10 crore as project assistance would come from the World Bank.
Kamal said Rajuk would formulate risk-prone land use plan and conduct land zoning in these cities to determine which areas are suitable for constructing multistoried buildings. Following the request of Bangladesh government in 2011 to Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) of the World Bank, the lending agency through appointing an international consultation firm conducted a comprehensive pre-appraisal or pre-investment study.
Considering the necessity of effective response to urban disasters, reinforcing existing infrastructure and ensuring resilience construction aspects, the World Bank suggested for undertaking such investment project.
The day's ECNEC meeting approved two separate projects for rehabilitation and development of level crossing gates of western and eastern zones of Bangladesh Railway in a bid to ensure safe train communication as well as reducing the risk of accidents.
Bangladesh Railway will implement both the projects by June 2017 where Taka 47.84 crore has been allocated against the western zone project and Taka 49.34 crore for the eastern zone project.
The other projects approved in the meeting are procurement of cold recycling plant and equipment for maintenance of the major roads under Dhaka South City Corporation with Tk 51.82 crore, increasing crop intensity at Sylhet region with Tk 74.85 crore, rehabilitation of the damaged polders in Cox's Bazar district with Tk 259.76 crore and protection of both embankments of Sangu and Chadkhali rivers under Chandanaish and Satkania upazilas of Chittagong district with Tk 138.01 crore.
Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and Secretaries concerned were present.
This work is copyrighted and authorized by the Bangladesh Awami League. You may download, display, print and re-produce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice)for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organization.
