A recent newspaper report on the use of bamboo slices instead of mild steel (MS) rods in the construction of a two-storey biological research centre at Damurhuda upazila in Chuadanga has only reconfirmed the widespread suspicion about the quality of public sector development works.
The alleged irregularities also came as an embarrassment to the administration and the Ministry of Agriculture. So, the government asked the relevant law enforcing agencies to nab the contractor concerned. Late last week, the contractor, who happens to be a ruling party man, was arrested by the members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Pallabi area of Mirpur. Scores of multi-colour billboards carrying the portrait of the contractor concerned were seen hanging along the Bijoy Sarani, Raokeya sarani and the street in front of the Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE) until recently. The biological research centre is a project under the DAE.
The irregularities detected in the construction of the biological research centre, according to construction industry insiders, is only the tip of the iceberg. The extent of wrongdoings and corruption in the implementation of some public sector development projects, would even defy human imagination, they say.
In fact, the overall environment involving the execution of development projects does encourage all sorts of irregularities to take place. When a section of unscrupulous officials of the executing agencies remain involved in the malpractice and monitoring and evaluation of projects by relevant organisation are weak, it is hard to expect anything better.
Enough of stories about embezzlement of project funds, in full or partially, by officials and contractors, often through the application of innovative ideas, have been in circulation. The digging of a pond with public fund is one. Maybe, the so-called 'pond project' is concocted or fabricated one. But it does highlight the people's perception of public sector development project execution. Â
It is widely believed that a large part of the fund of most projects, big or small, is misappropriated and everybody involved in the process does get his/her share. There could be exception. But instances of honesty and integrity are rare. The act of embezzlement is carried out compromising with the quality of projects.
Deliberate delay made in project execution is yet another mechanism to reap the maximum possible benefit out of public sector development projects. Lately, the propensity to use this particular method appears to be more than any time before. Almost all major projects, particularly those in the road sector, have got time extension more than once with additional allocations of funds. Experts concerned always smell rat in time extension of projects along with allocation of extra money.
One cannot rule out irregularities in development project execution in a country like Bangladesh where corruption is very much systemic. But there should be efforts to keep the same within a tolerable limit. For reasons of lax monitoring and evaluation of project execution work, irregularities have gone beyond control long before. The situation has just worsened lately.
The agency--- Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) --- entrusted with the job of overseeing the state of implementation of public sector development projects has not been performing up to the desired level due to its inherent weaknesses.
A report published in this paper last Sunday portrayed a sorry picture of the IMED, in terms of manpower and logistics. Moreover, the Division, it seems, has failed to emerge as a tough organization having enough 'biting' power. The IMED officials say they do not have legal authority to command compliance. That is why the ministries and divisions of the government ignore the IMED reports prepared after on-site visits by relevant officials and experts.
Undeniably, the IMED has shortage of manpower and logistics and does not have the legal authority to ensure compliance on the part of project executing agencies. These problems have been genuinely hurting the operational capability of the Division. Yet the organization could do more despite all its weaknesses. What the agency is lacking is enthusiasm to unearth a few major cases of irregularities, bring the same to the notice of the most powerful quarters of the government and with their permission seek investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The state of affairs with the execution of public sector development projects should not be allowed to go any further. The rot has to be contained in all possible ways. The ministries and divisions are now spending nearly Tk1000 billion on development projects annually. This is a huge sum. If 10 per cent of that money--- the level of misappropriation and wastage of funds is thought to be around 25 to 30 per cent of fund allocation against an individual project---is embezzled or wasted the amount comes to around Tk100 billion. A resource-strapped country cannot afford it. So, the activities or the IMED need to be geared up, making available necessary manpower, logistics and funds to it. More importantly, its authority should be beefed up so that the executing agencies think twice before trashing its reports.
zahidmar10@gmail.com
Innovative contractor, indeed!
Shamsul Huq Zahid | Published: May 09, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: May 08, 2016 21:31:15
Share if you like