Revising ongoing development projects has become an established culture within the government. It appears almost every Executive Committee Meeting of the National Economic Council (ENEC) gives approval to many revised projects allowing cost and time over-run. Report in a national daily on Monday said a second Padma bridge could be built with the additional fund allocated to 31 revised projects so far under the current fiscal year which is no less than Tk 29,471 crore. It naturally raises serious questions about the project planning and approval procedure and the implementation capacity of the government agencies. Need mention that the ambitious Padma Bridge cost Tk 30,192 crore which is almost same of the 31 projects additional cost.
We are appalled to say that such upward cost revision of projects have created a vicious circle within the bureaucracy which is purportedly exploiting the process to get rich over night by being project director or engaging in procurement business. Revision also shields their inefficiency and lack of capacity to handle project in time. Revising a project means they are passed by the authorities at first and then its budget is increased in subsequent occasion(s). The tax payers ultimately pay for the inefficiency as projects keep getting revised.
Many complexities may cause the upward revision such as delay in land acquisition, lengthy procurement process, delay in hiring consultants or delay in proper feasibility studies. It takes at least two years initially to pass a development project proposal. In case of politically motivated projects Planning Commission hastily pass the project and include it in the annual development programme (ADP) with a lum sum allocation. Few months later or over the year it comes up for review to get higher allocation on pressure of vested interest quarters which have their hands behind the project. Particularly government leaders and bureaucrats make fortune.
The fact is that our planning system has no accountability so revision of projects has almost become a routine matter. Nobody is held accountable for faulty planning. So the nation is losing huge public money every year. This money could build more projects without funding delayed projects. We would ask the government to reform the project approval system.
