Political pressure delays LGD project
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Political pressure has delayed the execution of a Tk 4.52 billion project as the implementing and processing agencies have failed to give it final shape after three-time revisions in six months, officials said.
On the fourth occasion, the Planning Commission has refused to approve the project due to repeated revisions by the project agency without valid reasons, the officials said.
Local government ministry officials said they have not obtained approval from the project evaluation committee (PEC) of the commission for its Tk4.52 billion municipality infrastructure development project till date.
"We had to revise the project as some members of parliament ratcheted up pressure on us to add their local municipalities to the final project design," a local government division (LGD) official said.
The LGD received PEC's green signal in July this year for the development of 15 municipalities under the project. But the division revised again the project proposal and included four more municipalities without any valid reasons. The commission has refused to approve it.
"PEC has already sat three times and finally given approval in July this year. But the executing agency revised the project fourth times without valid reasons and requested us for endorsement again," a senior planning commission official told the FE.
"Without valid reasons, Planning Commission can't okay further revision in the project. It will be a clear violation of government regulations," he said requesting anonymity.
First, the LGD undertook the project at Tk 4.52 billion to develop infrastructure of 12 municipalities including Kotalipara, Tungipara, Bera, Santhiya, Sujanagar and Hossainpur, enlisted in the current Annual Development Programme (ADP) without fund allocations.
In early this year, it sent the project to the Planning Commission for getting approval of the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC).
The PEC of the commission sat first time in January this year and approved development of 13 municipalities.
"It is not possible to consider any project by the PEC after 25 working days of last approval. The LGD has sent the restructured project proposal adding four more municipalities after 50 days which is clear violation of government rules," he said.
The PEC of the Planning Commission has approved the project in principle at the meeting on January 28 this year, recommending inclusion of the Sujanagar municipality with the proposal.
The LGD submitted the revised proposal including a new component which again approved by the PEC second time in April.
Later the LGD added another municipality Ullahpara to the project proposal and the PEC in its third meeting in July this year approved the project for placing it before the ECNEC.
"Suddenly, the LGD revised the project fourth times adding four more municipalities without any valid reasons and has sent it to us for approval again," the planning commission official said.
On the fourth occasion, the Planning Commission has refused to approve the project due to repeated revisions by the project agency without valid reasons, the officials said.
Local government ministry officials said they have not obtained approval from the project evaluation committee (PEC) of the commission for its Tk4.52 billion municipality infrastructure development project till date.
"We had to revise the project as some members of parliament ratcheted up pressure on us to add their local municipalities to the final project design," a local government division (LGD) official said.
The LGD received PEC's green signal in July this year for the development of 15 municipalities under the project. But the division revised again the project proposal and included four more municipalities without any valid reasons. The commission has refused to approve it.
"PEC has already sat three times and finally given approval in July this year. But the executing agency revised the project fourth times without valid reasons and requested us for endorsement again," a senior planning commission official told the FE.
"Without valid reasons, Planning Commission can't okay further revision in the project. It will be a clear violation of government regulations," he said requesting anonymity.
First, the LGD undertook the project at Tk 4.52 billion to develop infrastructure of 12 municipalities including Kotalipara, Tungipara, Bera, Santhiya, Sujanagar and Hossainpur, enlisted in the current Annual Development Programme (ADP) without fund allocations.
In early this year, it sent the project to the Planning Commission for getting approval of the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC).
The PEC of the commission sat first time in January this year and approved development of 13 municipalities.
"It is not possible to consider any project by the PEC after 25 working days of last approval. The LGD has sent the restructured project proposal adding four more municipalities after 50 days which is clear violation of government rules," he said.
The PEC of the Planning Commission has approved the project in principle at the meeting on January 28 this year, recommending inclusion of the Sujanagar municipality with the proposal.
The LGD submitted the revised proposal including a new component which again approved by the PEC second time in April.
Later the LGD added another municipality Ullahpara to the project proposal and the PEC in its third meeting in July this year approved the project for placing it before the ECNEC.
"Suddenly, the LGD revised the project fourth times adding four more municipalities without any valid reasons and has sent it to us for approval again," the planning commission official said.