The approval was given at the Ecnec meeting here with its alternate chairman Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman in the chair.

"Eight projects were approved and four other projects were not approved and were sent back to the concerned departments for reducing project costs," the finance minister said.

The meeting okayed Tk 161.03 crore special apartment implementation project (revised) under the housing and public works ministry. "Apartments will be constructed for the members of the parliament and government officials under this project with funds from internal resources," the minister added.

The meeting approved urban primary health care project (2nd revised) of the local government and rural development (LGRD) ministry. The total fund allocated for this project is Tk 274.69 crore of which Tk 214.46 crore will come from foreign assistance.

A Tk 436.60 crore health, nutrition and population sector programme (HNPSP) contingency plan project under the health and family welfare ministry was also approved at the meeting. The total fund of this project will come from external resources as project assistance.

Tk 153.85 crore greater Khulna power supply project - 2nd phase (revised), Tk 75 crore project for modernization of the signaling and interlinking system of seven stations in the western zone of the Bangladesh Railway under the communication ministry and Taka 73.10 crore rehabilitation project for flood damage in the south-western area (Part-D) under the water resources ministry were also approved at the meeting.

The Ecnec meeting also okayed Tk 38.25 crore project under the LGRD ministry for accelerating and developing water supply and sanitation system in the districts in the hill tract areas.

Tk 19.54 crore revised project for collecting equipment and spare parts on emergency basis for rehabilitation and replacement of conduction and supply system under the Power Development Board was also approved.