Ministries volunteer to cut ADP allocations

Some important ministries have desired trimming of their original allocations made in the annual development programme (ADP) for the current fiscal year.
The Planning Commission (PC) is now revising the ADP for the current financial year (2014-15) against the backdrop of the ongoing troubled political situation and weak implementation performance.
The request for downsizing of allocation, however, has come in contrast to the pressure that is now being put by some other ministries on the PC to make additional allocation for new development projects, sources said.
"Major government agencies like the power division, ministry of railway, ministry of health, bridge division and ministry of water resources have sought funds less than the original allocations made in the ADP," said a senior PC official.
Since some key ministries and divisions are seeking funds less than their allocations, we have been forced to cut the current outlay in the upcoming RADP, he added.
The PC is likely to finalise the RADP in its extended meeting, to be held today (Tuesday) in Dhaka.
The second largest development fund holder - the power division-- has sought Tk 89.47 billion, Tk 2.80 billion less than the original outlay of Tk 92.27 billon, in the upcoming RADP.
The railway ministry, the recipient of fifth largest allocation in the ADP, has sought Tk36 billion, 9.0 billion less than the original allocation.
The bridges division has sought Tk 78.65 billion from the government in the upcoming RADP as against the original allocation of Tk 81 billion.
The PC official said the original allocations made in the ADP could be cut by nearly Tk 80 billion in the RADP.
The Commission is working to revise the current Tk 803.15 billion ADP to streamline its execution following weak implementation of projects by a number of ministries and divisions.
The government agencies have spent only Tk 258.58 billion, 32 percent of the total Tk 803.15 billion outlay in the ADP during July-January period of this fiscal.
Meanwhile, some other key government agencies like roads and highways department (RHD), local government division, are on a race to include a large numbers of development projects in the upcoming RADP although there is no allocation for fresh projects.
The PC officials said they are under pressure to scrutinise the list of the fresh projects of some ministries and divisions in the next RADP.  
The Commission has got list of more than 70 new projects of RHD for their inclusion in the upcoming revised ADP, the PC official said.
In the last FY2014, the government ministries and divisions had sought an additional allocation of Tk 65.83 billion before finalization of the RADP. The RADP is expected to be finalised within this month, PC officials said.
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