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The Planning Commission has sent back 30 development project proposals to the ministries concerned because of the austerity measures taken by the government amid a global economic meltdown.
Officials of the Planning Commission told the Business Post that so far they have sent back around 30 projects to the ministries and divisions concerned as the allocation for medium-term budgetary frameworks (MTBF) has already been disbursed.
They said most of the projects are considered less important.
The move will ensure quality in undertaking projects and maintain the austerity initiative, they added.
Planning Division Secretary Md Mamun Al Rashid said there is a need for scrutiny of those projects as many of those, which have been sent back, are not relevant for implementation right now.
“Earlier, some projects were approved even after the MTBF ceiling was crossed. If you dream of development, you have to undertake some more activities. It was done from that perspective,” he said.
“But now the global situation is not favourable and the government prefers to be austere. So, we are sending back such project proposals,” he added.
The highest number of projects which were turned down in the past two months were from the physical infrastructure sector. Projects of the Department of Agriculture follow the physical infrastructure sector, followed by Water Resources and Rural Institutions and the Department of Socio-Economic Infrastructure.
All the projects were returned without holding any meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC).
Among those projects, the Kuakata Beach Protection and Development project at an estimated cost of Tk 1,211.33 crore was targeted to be implemented by June 2024. The project has returned with various recommendations.
Besides, the project to protect the old Hijla and Harinath areas of Hijla upazila from the erosion of the Meghna branch river has also been returned. The cost of its implementation was estimated at Tk 449.36 crore. It was supposed to be implemented by June 2023.
The re-excavation of Subhadya Canal under Keraniganj Upazila of Dhaka and development and protection of both banks of the canal project with an estimated cost of Tk 1,200 crore and the re-dredging of Laujong river under district headquarters, Delduar and Mithamin upazilas of Tangail district project with a projected cost Tk 125 crore were also sent back.
Besides, the project to protect various areas of Sadar Upazila of Jhalkathi from the erosion of the Sugandha River at a cost of Tk 798 crore was also sent back.
Meanwhile, in the current 2022-23 fiscal year, the MTBF allocation was Tk 37,285.78 crore but the demand is Tk 1,08,336 crore.
