State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu has expressed dissatisfaction over the Power Division's poor performance in implementing the Annual Development Programme (ADP), officials said.
The state minister articulated his dismay while presiding over a meeting, held recently to review progress of different ADP projects, being executed by the Power Division.
In the meeting, the division and agencies concerned have been directed to take necessary actions to complete implementation of the projects according to the set timeframe, a source said.
Meanwhile, Planning Commission officials said the Power Division has failed to start many of its planned projects properly. ADP implementation rate of the division is very poor, although there is no fund shortage.
Some 64 projects are being implemented in the current ADP through different agencies of the power sector.
The government has allocated Tk 91.71 billion in favour of the projects for the current fiscal year (FY), 2014-15. Of the allocation, Tk 47.29 billion is government fund, while Tk 44.42 billion is from project assistance, according to the ministry data. Some Tk 25.89 billion was spent from the allocated fund from July to December of the ongoing FY, which is only 28 per cent of the allocation, the data showed.
Another meeting is supposed to be held soon to review implementation progress of the projects under the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB).
The government has been trying to develop the power sector since 2009. In line with its planning, power generation as well as distribution and proper implementation of the projects have been prioritised.
An official concerned said Tk 34 billion has been kept for the Rural Electrification Board (REB) for the next FY, 2015-16, under the Medium-Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF).
But the allocated amount for the REB for the next FY is very marginal and insufficient. So, the REB will require Tk 38 billion for completion of its projects properly. The government has primarily fixed a ceiling of Tk 102.12 billion for the Power Division in the budget for the next FY under MTBF, officials said.
Of the amount, the division will get Tk 36.85 billion as project assistance, while Tk 65.26 billion will be given from the government fund.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
