Anisul Islam Noor :
The energy experts have differed and raise question on the government decision to form special committee to deal and purchase for big projects of the sector bypassing tender.
Former energy adviser to the caretaker government professor M Tamim raised question on the necessity of the speedy supply act or formation of such purchase committee saying that they would not help much in faster implementation of energy sector projects.
A similar move in providing new gas connections to industries drew severe criticism for favoritism earlier, he said. M Tamim said that projects like oil and gas exploration and building facilities for the supply of primary fuels needed several years while avoidance of tender process might hardly save two or three months.
Tamim said that the members of the proposed committee might be targeted easily for manipulation.
In 2010, the government formed a committee headed by Prime Minister’s energy adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury for approving the applications for new gas connections to industries prioritising them considering their contribution to the country’s economy.
The government has decided last week to form special committee for dealing and purchasing heavy equipment and machineries for energy sector’s big project under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act 2010.
The committee will be empowered to process all unsolicited proposals for projects and supply of materials and services, said officials. Energy Adviser of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Professor Shamsul Alam said, people of the country have no believe on this committee because they only interfere for nepotism only. The ministers, advisers and officials have so many responsibilities to supervise the projects implementation, when those will be member in the special committee, they might try to protect their interest not the country, he said. The decision was made at a meeting last week with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid in chair at the Ministry.
The energy division will soon form the committee which might expedite the project approval process also.
Now both the solicited and unsolicited proposals for development projects or sale of goods and services to the government are processed by the wings of energy division which often creates complexities and wastes time, power division sources said.
