ADP to be revised to make way for post-Sidr rehab projects

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S M Jahangir
The current Annual Development Programme (ADP) will undergo a revision shortly with inclusion of post-Sidr rehabilitation projects, sources said.
Relevant ministries have already started submitting their project proposals (PPs) to the Planning Commission (PC) for the incorporation into the revised ADP, they said.
The size of current ADP is worth Taka 265 billion.
Among the agencies concerned, the Power Division recently placed its PPs for both the rehabilitation and upgradation of the affected infrastructure in the Sidr-hit districts.
The Power Division has proposed around Tk 1.0 billion rehabilitation programme for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure of different state-owned power agencies.
The agencies include Rural Electrification Board (REB), West Zone Power Distribution Limited Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), a senior Power Division official said.
Of the total, a Tk 590 million worth of rehabilitation and upgradation scheme has been proposed for the REB, the infrastructure of which was badly affected by the November 15 cyclone.
Official sources, however, said at least 24 electricity transmission towers of the Board were badly damaged in many places like Pirojpur and Bagerhat districts due to the SIDR.
The Power Division has also proposed another Tk 270-million rehabilitation scheme for the West Zone Power Distribution Limited, Tk 120 million for DESA and the remaining amount for the BPDB projects, the official mentioned.
Responding to a question, the official said: "Although the total losses caused due to the Sidr could be lower than the proposed fund for rehabilitation, we have sought increased amount of fund for implementing some upgradation works."
The losses to the infrastructure of the concerned power agencies due to the cyclone are estimated at less than Tk 1.0 billion, the official added.
Like the Power Division, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has also put forward a nearly Tk 700 million post-Sidr rehabilitation scheme for inclusion in the ADP.
The ministries of LGRD and education have also placed their project proposals to the PC, sources mentioned.
After evaluating such project proposals, the PC will send those to the government's highest decision-making body for approval, an official said.
The official further said although the relevant government agencies are placing their respective PPs, their implementation process will take place in a coordinated way.
The government has already planned to launch short, medium and long-tem projects for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in the cyclone-affected areas.
Initial estimate has put the losses at around $2.0 billion due to the Sidr.
Various multilateral donors and development partners have already pledged millions of dollars for supporting the government's post-Sidr rehabilitation programmes.
The World Bank has assured the government of providing US$ 100 as budgetary support following the cyclone.