Sources said the project was approved so that a number of ruling alliance loyalists could make brisk money.

The Executive Committee on National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved six projects involving Tk 3,233 crore including the project for expansion of existing power distribution lines in 67 rural electrification association areas of Rural Electrification Board (REB).

As per the meeting's decision, a total of Tk 953 crore will be spent in installing new electricity poles in villages under the project titled 'expansion of distribution system of 67 rural electrification associations'.

Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman chaired the meeting at the National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium.

Sources said without increasing power generation capacity, 10,500km of power distribution lines have already been installed under a previous power expansion project.

"Electricity poles will be installed for another 5,000km under the newly approved project," a meeting source said adding, "The project has increased its expenditure from the initial cost of Tk 553 crore to Tk 953 crore."

"This is a not a good government policy. It should have invested money in installing new power generation plants instead of expanding distribution," said a high official of the planning commission.

Planning ministry sources said there is a pro-government syndicate of businessmen who manufacture electricity poles in the country and the project will benefit them only.

"At the same time, the government approved the project to please voters ahead of the general elections," one official of the commission said.

Meanwhile, a power consumer of Rural Electrification Association in Satkhira said power crisis is acute in his area and he has to deal with around 20 to 22 hours of power cuts a day.

Saifur Rahman after the meeting said, "Yes, there is not enough power to meet the existing demand. However, we approved the project so that people would get electricity as soon as power is available."

The other projects approved in yesterday's meeting are: improvement of infrastructure and quality of education in public universities at a cost of Tk 194 crore, development of registered non-government primary schools [phase three] involving Tk 814 crore, reconstruction and renovation of government primary school buildings [phase two] at a cost of Tk 1,182 crore, construction of Imam Training Academy Bhaban and district level office buildings of Islamic Foundation at a cost of Tk 41 crore and development of water supply system in municipalities including revival of tube wells [phase three] at a cost of Tk 49 crore.

Dozens of projects involving about Tk 20,000 crore have been approved in last few Ecnec meetings at the fag end of the government's tenure.