Preventing project delays: Govt to make guideline for next govt

The interim government by December will prepare a guideline for the next government to eliminate delays and irregularities in project implementation.

At a high-profile meeting at the Secretariat yesterday, all secretaries were instructed to submit recommendations to the planning ministry on the types of irregularities and problems faced in project planning, formulation and implementation, along with proposals for resolving them.

The meeting, co-chaired by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, was held at the Cabinet Division and attended by almost all advisers, the chief adviser's special assistants, and secretaries. The discussion ran from 10:00am to around 2:00pm.

Speaking to The Daily Star last night, Wahiduddin told the Daily Star last night that the government wants to leave behind a set of "practical, project-focused guidelines" based on experience for the next administration. "The planning ministry will coordinate this process by gathering inputs from all ministries and divisions," he added.

The meeting also decided to investigate delays and irregularities in several foreign-funded projects.

Where corruption or malpractice is identified, the findings will be shared with the respective development partners, sources said.

Secretaries were asked to collect information on projects with unusually high costs or those launched without proper feasibility studies.

"If irregularities are found in large-scale projects, and if development partners had any responsibility in those, the matters will be placed before them," Wahiduddin said. "The assistance provided by development partners is ultimately repaid by the people. Therefore, if there are irregularities or corruption in these areas, the government must take action, and that is exactly what we are considering."

A secretary, requesting anonymity, said they were also instructed to prepare the revised budget for the current fiscal year and the Annual Development Programme (ADP) implementation progress report by December.

Officials said the goal is to avoid the year-end spending rush that typically occurs when evaluations are delayed until March or April.

At the meeting, the advisers placed the highest emphasis on the slow pace of ADP implementation and directed secretaries to identify reasons for the delays and suggest remedies.

Adviser Salehuddin asked ministries to ensure visible progress on key interim government measures by December. "Work must move forward in such a way that the significant achievements of the interim government remain visible as a footprint," he said, according to meeting sources.

Another major concern raised was the shortage of skilled manpower in project formulation and execution. Previously, officers from the economic cadre worked as project experts, but that cadre has since been merged into the administration cadre.

Many project directors currently lack specialised training in project management, officials noted. The meeting therefore decided to explore creating a separate pool of trained officers for project preparation and implementation.

During the meeting, a Cabinet Division joint secretary gave a presentation on the failed "Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)" project.

A senior secretary, on condition of anonymity,  later told The Daily Star that there "might not be a worse project than this one", adding that lessons must be learned before approving future projects.

Secretaries were also told to rigorously examine objections over environmental impacts. "If no well-prepared proposals are submitted, substandard projects are sometimes approved as there is no alternative in the government's hand. That must be avoided," said one source.

Land acquisition was identified as the single most troublesome aspect of implementation. Secretaries were directed to ensure that projects requiring land acquisition are finalised only after the land is secured. A secretary present noted that a similar directive had been issued by the previous government but was never enforced.

The meeting also discussed weaknesses in the Public Procurement Rules (PPR). Since a handful of groups dominate government procurement and construction, advisers decided to amend the PPR to break this monopoly and allow greater participation of small entrepreneurs.

Secretaries from the ERD, Planning Division and IMED made separate presentations on project-related issues. A senior secretary said the discussions were open and constructive, with some participants suggesting that such meetings be held monthly.