Taking into account poor execution performance of development projects, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) has issued warnings to the officials concerned of stern actions upon failure to improve their performances, officials said.
The MoFL reviewed some 57 projects taken by it at a recent meeting.
It expressed disappointment over the slow progress of fund utilisation that delays implementation of the projects.
The government has allocated a total of over Tk 5.21 billion (Tk 521 crore 35 lakh) for development of fisheries and livestock sectors of the country for the current fiscal year (FY), 2015-16.
The meeting minutely reviewed 35 projects taken by fisheries sector and 22 by livestock sector for the current fiscal.
The government has allocated over Tk 3.88 billion for Department of Fisheries while over Tk 282 million for Fisheries Research Institute, over Tk 347 million for Fisheries Development Corporation, Tk 300 million for Marine Fisheries Academy and Tk 400 million for the ministry.
Until February 2016 a total of over Tk 2.83 billion was allocated against the said total allocation but only Tk 1.68 billion was utilised. The rate of success in implementation of the projects is only 32.33 per cent.
On the other hand, for the 22 projects of the livestock sector, Tk 2.43 billion was allocated for Department of Livestock, over Tk 224 million for Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) and over Tk 54 million for the ministry. The total allocation was over Tk 2.71 billion, but until February 2016 over Tk 1.05 billion was utilised.
The rate of success in utilisation of the fund for the projects was only 39 per cent.
The MoFL will take stern departmental actions against the officials who failed to utilise funds allocated for the development projects undertaken by the ministry for the current fiscal year.
The MoFL has also asked the officials concerned of the projects not to seek additional funds and attach priority to check public fund waste while implementing the projects.
Fisheries and Livestock secretary Md Maksudul Hasan Khan asked the project directors (PDs) to gear up the implementation of the projects through proper utilisation of allocated funds, meeting sources said.
The meeting reviewed that the rate of project implementation by the MoFL remained low compared to some other ministries' projects.
It has also given directives to the officials for carrying out their responsibilities imbued with patriotic zeal, dedication and honesty for the sake of the country and the people.
"We would take stern departmental actions against the officials concerned who failed to utilise allocated funds for implementing the projects from July next," a high official of the ministry told the FE.
However, Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Fisheries Syed Arif Azad said his department will be able to implement the projects within the stipulated time.
"We will be able to implement the projects within the set timeframe," he told the FE.
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