For a better functioning DCC
Enamul Haque | Thursday, 31 July 2008
The exodus of people from other areas of the country leading to their migration to Dhaka city and its adjacent areas is occurring at a fast pace. The pull factors of the city are considered as almost unstoppable by experts. Thus, it needs no explanation how critically important it is to cope with the needs of the ever growing city.
The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is supremely responsible for the vital management of city life in many areas. It is responsible for maintaining and adding to the road networks of the city, for its garbage disposal, creation of conditions for smooth traffic movement, sanitation, environmental improvements and a host of other functions to keep the city at least reasonably habitable for its present population and to prepare well for the new arrivals.
But it is transparent from everyday scenes in the city that this pivotal organisation for urban governance has been unpardonably slipping in its tasks and this is reflected in the growing problems and torments of city life. The DCC is found very incompetent in even preparing the necessary project profiles in time. A report in this paper sometime ago detailed how it missed the opportunities to get World Bank (WB) funding for a number of projects the starting and implementation of which in time could make a great difference for the better in city life.
The planning department of the DCC clearly requires uplift with the recruitment of competent personnel for it. Besides, the DCC's top functionaries are alleged to be corrupt. They have more rent seeking in mind from firms bidding for different projects and show reluctance to approve projects and delay related actions if their palms are not well greased. Donor organisations withdrew funds from several projects the fast completion of which could add to the quality of life and living in Dhaka.
Apart from taking up and completing projects in time with donor funds, the DCC has been failing seriously in its routine work. The filth and squalor and lack of hygienic conditions almost everywhere in Dhaka are examples of its gross underperformance. The DCC authorities complain about insufficient resources to be able to carry out their routine functions satisfactorily. But any proper assessment will show that more than any such inadequacy of resources to face up to regular tasks, what plagues the proper functioning of the organisation are corruption and the insincerity of its employees. No system is in operation to make the employees accountable for their failures.
Steps must be taken on an urgent basis to improve the functioning of the DCC as the mounting problems have already become unbearable to the majority of the city dwellers.
The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is supremely responsible for the vital management of city life in many areas. It is responsible for maintaining and adding to the road networks of the city, for its garbage disposal, creation of conditions for smooth traffic movement, sanitation, environmental improvements and a host of other functions to keep the city at least reasonably habitable for its present population and to prepare well for the new arrivals.
But it is transparent from everyday scenes in the city that this pivotal organisation for urban governance has been unpardonably slipping in its tasks and this is reflected in the growing problems and torments of city life. The DCC is found very incompetent in even preparing the necessary project profiles in time. A report in this paper sometime ago detailed how it missed the opportunities to get World Bank (WB) funding for a number of projects the starting and implementation of which in time could make a great difference for the better in city life.
The planning department of the DCC clearly requires uplift with the recruitment of competent personnel for it. Besides, the DCC's top functionaries are alleged to be corrupt. They have more rent seeking in mind from firms bidding for different projects and show reluctance to approve projects and delay related actions if their palms are not well greased. Donor organisations withdrew funds from several projects the fast completion of which could add to the quality of life and living in Dhaka.
Apart from taking up and completing projects in time with donor funds, the DCC has been failing seriously in its routine work. The filth and squalor and lack of hygienic conditions almost everywhere in Dhaka are examples of its gross underperformance. The DCC authorities complain about insufficient resources to be able to carry out their routine functions satisfactorily. But any proper assessment will show that more than any such inadequacy of resources to face up to regular tasks, what plagues the proper functioning of the organisation are corruption and the insincerity of its employees. No system is in operation to make the employees accountable for their failures.
Steps must be taken on an urgent basis to improve the functioning of the DCC as the mounting problems have already become unbearable to the majority of the city dwellers.