The implementation of the annual development programme continued at a slow pace as only 38 per cent of the ADP funds was used in July-February period of the current financial year compared to 44 per cent in the same period of the previous year. Planning ministry officials said low utilisation of both government allocation and project aid amid intense political unrest during last quarter of the previous year and government’s focus on election continued to affect the ADP progress in the first eight months.
They said that the pace of development works was yet to get momentum even after two months of the formation of the new government through a controversial election on January 5.
In February, the implementation rate of ADP was only 5 percentage points as the total spending till January was 33 per cent.
According to the data of Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the planning ministry released on Wednesday, 54 implementing ministries spent Tk 25,218 crore in July-February period against the total allocation of Tk 65,872 crore.
Of the total expenditure in first eight months, Tk 16,682 crore or 40 per cent was government allocation, Tk 8,536 crore or 35 per cent was projects assistance and Tk 1,129 crore or 14 per cent was self-financed projects of the respective agency.
The planning ministry, however, is opposing a move by the finance ministry to downsize the ADP by Tk 10,872 crore or 16.50 per cent to Tk 55,000 crore due to low implementation rate.
Planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal recently told reporters that his ministry is negotiating the issue with the finance ministry as there is no reason to cut the ADP.
‘As the ADP size is big this year, so the implementation rate seems slow. We had a bad starting because of political unrest. But the size of the ADP should be the same so that the ministries have the chance to use their full potentials,’ he said in a press briefing.
The IMED data showed that the top 10 ministries and divisions could implement only 36 per cent in July-February of the current fiscal year.
Of the top 10 ministries and divisions, bridge division was the worst performer which spent only five per cent of the total allocation, followed by the housing and public works ministry which spent spend 13 per cent.
The local government division was the top performer that spent 55 per cent followed by primary and mass education ministry which spent 48 per cent, railway ministry and health and family welfare ministry both spent 44 per cent in the period.
According to the data, power division spent 33 per cent, energy and mineral resources division 35 per cent, while roads division and education ministry both spent 40 per cent of their allocation in July-February period of the current fiscal year.
-With New Age input
