DHAKA, Feb 17, 2019 (BSS) – Planning Minister MA Mannan today directed the
secretaries of the concerned Ministries and Divisions to expedite the project
implementation pace and thus ensure cent percent implementation rate under
the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the current fiscal year(FY19).
“My directive and also appeal to the secretaries was to further enhance the
pace of implementation of projects,” Mannan said while briefing journalists
after chairing a review meeting on current fiscal year’s ADP held at the NEC
conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar .
Planning Commission members, Secretaries of various Ministries and
Divisions and other high officials attended the meeting.
The planning minister suggested the secretaries concerned to give their
all-out efforts towards ensuring cent percent implementation under the ADP.
“All of them also echoed with my call if they want to ensure cent percent
implementation. I’ve also assured them to provide all necessary support in
this regard,” he added.
Referring to the issue of overseeing more than one project by one project
director, he said that directives have already been there from the Prime
Minister not to assign a project director for more than one project.
“But, we have noticed that still there are some project directors who are
supervising more than one project. But, the tendency has definitely reduced
as we have to acknowledge that,” the minister added.
Mannan also directed the secretaries so that the project directors under
their Ministries and Divisions remain in the project sites to ensure
oversight of smooth implementation of project works.
About the delay in land acquisition process which often delays the project
implementation pace, he suggested the Land Secretary in the meeting on how to
expedite the process further.
The planning minister said the Economic Relations Division (ERD) has been
requested to look into the matter on how to shorten the process of realizing
loans from the development partners through addressing the related issues.
“We want to do things on time and in time…We should always work ‘in a
hurry’ but not compromising with quality,” Mannan said underscoring the need
for maintaining standard of works during implementation of development
schemes.
Planning Commission member Md Asif uz Zaman said that the performance of
the Ministries and Divisions under the ADP is so far satisfactory.
He also informed that the secretaries of the Ministries and Divisions have
assured the planning minister and the planning commission that they would be
able to fulfill their implementation target under the ADP in the current
fiscal year.
Earlier in May last year, the National Economic Council (NEC) approved an
overall ADP of Taka 1,80,869.17 crore for the next fiscal (2018-19),
including the organisations’ own fund, with more emphasis on speeding up the
implementation of mega projects.
Out of the overall ADP size, Taka 1,19,810.95 crore will come from the
local sources while Taka 61,058.22 crore from foreign sources.