Editorial
Implement downsized ADP by all means
Development deficit mustn't be allowed to grow
WITH only 25 percent of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) implemented in the first seven months of fiscal 2007-08, it has had to be revised downward to make it realisable. The original ADP has been slashed by Tk 4,000 crore to stand at Tk 22,500 crore. The whittling down of allocations, well past the half way point of the year, raises the stake in implementation and, to that extent, all the ministries must redouble their efforts to execute the projects they have hunkered down to. Whilst the allocations coming from local resources will be reduced drastically, somewhat redeeming news is that allocations from foreign resources will increase by 15 percent made possible by donors' increased budgetary support of Tk 5,425 crore owing to cyclone Sidr and floods.
The government is giving thrust to minimising developmental discrimination based on geographical locations. The revised ADP and the new allocations acknowledge ten districts as lagging behind needing a shot in the arm. Tk 15 crore is being allocated to develop livelihoods which is obviously a peanut. The government's lump sum allocation for development of local governments and Chittagong Hill Tracks looks somewhat reasonable at Tk 150 crore.
What we look at with trepidation is that development funds are being diverted from rural development, power, communications and water development sectors on the ground that they could not implement projects assigned to them. And for all we know, these sectors are in dire need for development. It seems to us that more important that a ministry is, less likely it's to complete projects. This is a non-political, technocratic government that should have been best suited in terms of efficient selection of projects from feasibility point of view and therefore only expected to accelerate the process of implementation. Now while hurrying through the process they must stand guard against any compromise on quality.
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