Private participation in DCC's infrastructure building
Sunday, 6 January 2008
AKM Shamshuddin
THE Dhaka City Corporation ( DCC) is found deficient in providing essential services to citizens. From the routine task of garbage clearance to coordinating the activities of various utility agencies, the DCC is expected to play a vital role in the life of the people of Dhaka city. But any attempt to get a feedback on its services is very likely to produce a disapproval from many of the respondents.
The leaders of the business community have been urging for active policy supports for encouraging participation in the activities of the DCC to make them more useful. The proposal, no doubt, merits due consideration. The authorities concerned do need to act upon it promptly and earnestly.
The role of private cleaning operations in some wards of the city has meanwhile been appreciated. But more than any amount of private cleaning operations, the DCC stands to gain much by allowing the participation of the private sector in its domains to build all kinds of infrastructures to meet the very pressing needs of the same in the backdrop of the city's unchecked and fast physical expansion and the rapidly growing number of its residents.
The DCC currently faces inadequacy of resources in building and operating enough infrastructures. The bureaucracy and corruption of its staff also prevent good utilisation of its funds for developmental and maintenance activities. But private sector participation on the models of BOO ( build, operate and own ) or BOT ( build, operate and transfer) can be an answer to both the issues of the DCC's insufficient resources and its corruption.
It will not cost the DCC or the government anything if the private sector is allowed to build car parks, playgrounds, rubbish dumping grounds, public toilets, burial grounds, etc., to own and operate them. Of course, the DCC would be required to bind the private operators to charging reasonable amounts for their services and, more significantly, to establish such infrastructures under a master plan to be drawn up by the DCC to meet the needs of the environment and other requirements of balance and beautification of the city. The private sector presently is shy of investment in some areas of the economy and a great deal of relatively idle money are, therefore, to be found in the hands of the private sector. But these resources can be gainfully invested to create benefits for different categories of stakeholders if the DCC decides to break the mould of its present orthodoxy of attempting all developmental works in the DCC area all by itself.
The people of Dhaka are badly in need of all types of infrastructures to cater to their needs. The DCC should allow the entry of the private sector into the building of the same . Such a step will only earn appreciation for the DCC.
THE Dhaka City Corporation ( DCC) is found deficient in providing essential services to citizens. From the routine task of garbage clearance to coordinating the activities of various utility agencies, the DCC is expected to play a vital role in the life of the people of Dhaka city. But any attempt to get a feedback on its services is very likely to produce a disapproval from many of the respondents.
The leaders of the business community have been urging for active policy supports for encouraging participation in the activities of the DCC to make them more useful. The proposal, no doubt, merits due consideration. The authorities concerned do need to act upon it promptly and earnestly.
The role of private cleaning operations in some wards of the city has meanwhile been appreciated. But more than any amount of private cleaning operations, the DCC stands to gain much by allowing the participation of the private sector in its domains to build all kinds of infrastructures to meet the very pressing needs of the same in the backdrop of the city's unchecked and fast physical expansion and the rapidly growing number of its residents.
The DCC currently faces inadequacy of resources in building and operating enough infrastructures. The bureaucracy and corruption of its staff also prevent good utilisation of its funds for developmental and maintenance activities. But private sector participation on the models of BOO ( build, operate and own ) or BOT ( build, operate and transfer) can be an answer to both the issues of the DCC's insufficient resources and its corruption.
It will not cost the DCC or the government anything if the private sector is allowed to build car parks, playgrounds, rubbish dumping grounds, public toilets, burial grounds, etc., to own and operate them. Of course, the DCC would be required to bind the private operators to charging reasonable amounts for their services and, more significantly, to establish such infrastructures under a master plan to be drawn up by the DCC to meet the needs of the environment and other requirements of balance and beautification of the city. The private sector presently is shy of investment in some areas of the economy and a great deal of relatively idle money are, therefore, to be found in the hands of the private sector. But these resources can be gainfully invested to create benefits for different categories of stakeholders if the DCC decides to break the mould of its present orthodoxy of attempting all developmental works in the DCC area all by itself.
The people of Dhaka are badly in need of all types of infrastructures to cater to their needs. The DCC should allow the entry of the private sector into the building of the same . Such a step will only earn appreciation for the DCC.