Allocation reduced at end of financial year

19 projects of LGED

Tk 580 cr couldn’t be spent

Mahfuja Mukul: At the very end of the fiscal year, the allocation of 19 ongoing projects of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is being cut.
Tk 580.79 crore is being deducted from these projects due to not being able to spend the desired amount. Tk 4,526.85 crore has been allocated in the revised ADP for the projects.
Also, due to increased demand, this money will be distributed in favor of 13 other projects through utilization.
The matter was informed in a letter sent to the Planning Commission on May 25. Concerned people think that the concerned people are not being held accountable for not being able to spend with more allocations. As a result, similar incidents are happening constantly.
Also, this unused money is strategically allocated to other projects so that it is not returned. In these matters, there is a need to amend the current policy and adopt strictness.
When asked about this, Planning Minister MA Mannan told that the relevant ministries can do additions and subtractions within the law. But like you, my basic question is – Why did they withdraw from the allocation in the revised ADP? Of course, the concerned executive authority or the secretary of the ministry can bring the project stakeholders under accountability. I can evaluate things with IMEDK.
In response to a question, he said, we cannot prevent it if it is done according to the rules. But the concerned executive authority can look into the matter of those who could not spend the money.
Former lead economist of the World Bank Dhaka office Zahid Hossain said that it is being said that the money cannot be spent within 1/2 month with the allocation in the revised ADP. What happens during this period that it is not possible to spend the money? Doing so will call into question the credibility of the revised ADP. So, what was the need for the revised allocation? What is the benefit of this correction? Instead, meetings had to be held and correspondences had to be written while doing this process. Spending a lot of time and money doing all this has been a loss.
According to the sources, the projects from which the allocation is being cut are Tk 19.65 crore from the village infrastructure development project of Jamalpur-Sherpur district.
Besides, Tk 100 crores from Khulna Division Rural Infrastructure Development Project, Tk 32.90 crores for infrastructure development of Langalband Ashtami, Tk 25 crores from long bridge construction project on upazila and union roads and Tk 4.29 crores from RupganjJalsindi housing connecting project. There is also a shortfall of Tk 63 crore in the disaster-affected rural road development project in three hill districts. Tk 50 crores and 25 lakhs for the construction of bridges below 100 meters on upazila-union and village roads.
Tk 10.86 crore for construction of 9 bridges in Brahmanbaria district. Tk 10 crore for the development of important rural infrastructure in Comilla-Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts. Tk 17.90 crore for rural infrastructure development of Gazipur district. Apart from this, Tk 5.5 million is decreasing in the project of construction of important bridge on Palli road (second stage).
Tk 3 crore for flood relief in Sadar Upazila of Narayanganj district. Tk 10.25 crore for improving infrastructure and quality of life in Howr region. Tk 15.60 crore for flood management and quality of life improvement project in Howr region. Tk 3.54crore under Infrastructural Capacity Building and Enhancing Resilience of Vulnerable Populations through Information (Prabhati) Project.
Tk 27.27 crore from Western Region Economic Corridor and Regional Development Expansion Programme. Tk 39.99 crore from Rural Transport Improvement Project-2. Tk 177.24 crore from rural road bridge development assistance program and Tk 28 crore from construction project of 1490 meter long PC girder bridge on Teesta river on Panchpir Bazar-Chilmariupazila headquarters road under Sundarganjupazila of Gaibandha.
A responsible official of the local government department told that there is no legal obstacle to making this use. But still, as far as I know, the project stakeholders may have given a logical reason and said they could not spend this money. The amount was deducted as the concerned parties were satisfied with their arguments. However, this matter is completely under the jurisdiction of LGED. They do not even come to the ministry for approval. So, I can’t say much. He also said that the Minister of Local Government has held a meeting with those who are behind in the implementation of the recently revised ADP.
According to sources, the 13 projects that are being cut from 19 projects in the current financial year are rural infrastructure development projects of greater Rajshahi district. Besides, the important rural infrastructure development of Sylhet division. Greater Dhaka rural infrastructure development. Rural infrastructure development project of Madaripur-Shariatpur and Rajbari districts. There is also Mymensingh region rural infrastructure development.
Upazila Complex Expansion-II Phase. Iron Bridge Reconstruction/Rehabilitation Project in Southern Region of the country. Greater Kushtia District Rural Infrastructure Development. Village Road Rehabilitation Project. Rehabilitation of rural road infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Amphan and floods. Rural infrastructure development of Pirojpur district. Rural infrastructure development of Monirampurupazila of Jessore district and important rural infrastructure development project of Tangail district.