Implementation takes 3.5 more years, 27% extra cost

The implementation of a project involving establishing five marine technology institutes in five districts was delayed by almost three years and a half while the cost rose by 27 per cent.

The project was scheduled to be completed on June 30, 2014, according to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) report.

The IMED report said the authorities concerned had been deprived of the benefits the project was supposed to yield. There were more than 15 types of weaknesses and five types of risks in the project.

The marine institutes were established in Munshiganj, Faridpur, Chandpur, Sirajganj, and Bagerhat.

IMED Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman said the project’s impacts were evaluated and its shortcomings should not be present in the ongoing or new ones.

“We will send the evaluation report to the relevant ministries so that they can take action, if possible. They should also be careful about other projects,” he added.

The IMED report said the project’s duration was extended thrice, with the last deadline being December 31, 2017. Its estimated cost increased from Tk 192 crore to Tk 244 crore.

The project director was also changed due to the delay, affecting the implementation. Educational activities at the institutes were hampered as well.

The first project director was appointed on a part-time basis in April 2010. The project saw four directors, but only one worked full-time. There was also a delay in selecting the project site.

The IMED report said there were several problems in the project, such as a lack of adequate machinery, equipment and skilled manpower; poor quality furniture; no playground; and a lack of housing for teachers and other staff members.

Besides, adequate employment was not created at the government and private levels. There was a shortage of faculty in marine engineering departments while salinity damaged infrastructure.

There was no necessary equipment for conducting practical classes and no job training. Libraries did not have enough books, and there was also a lack of modern labs.