The ADP Mess
The government's development programme for fiscal 1997-98 is moving at a snail's pace so much so that it can have a negative impact on the annual growth rate. In the first quarters, between July and September, 1997, only 11 per cent of the allocation could be utilised leaving the rest of the year to cope with such carryovers in terms of financial and physical targets that the ADP looks set to remain unfulfilled.
The factors responsible for the gingerly pace of project implementation are not difficult to identify, only that these will have to be staved off in a systematic manner. First of all, the release of local currency and its utilisation need to be quickened. Secondly, aid-givers must be persuaded to accelerate the pace of fund disbursement which is sometimes clogged by stringent procedural or technical requirements. Thirdly, it seems that we have everything in us to predispose a vitally important national undertaking such as the ADP, to remain a non-starter even in the middle of a year. It is beyond our comprehension why 31 per cent of the ADP projects are yet to be approved by the ECNEC when they otherwise form part of our development agenda. ECNEC is where the highest political will is reflected; if that apex body drags its feet over the essential criteria of selectivity then what trust can we have in the system? It seems we are not only without an effective project implementation apparatus, we are devoid of a clear-sighted, committed and professionally sound approval machinery as well.
The Prime Minister is urged to look into this selection-cum-approval aspects of ADP projects. If project preparations were shoddy then the ministries concerned should be faulted for it in the first place, with Planning Commission coming next in the line of fire.
Interministerial coordination being key to ultimate project selection and implementation, we would like the PM to ensure it with all the power she commands.
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