Lowest ADP implementation in an era

In the first four months of the current fiscal year 2024-25, July-October has seen the lowest amount. It has realized the lowest ADP in the period under discussion in the last one era. The government wants to make major cuts from the ADP for the current financial year. Those concerned think that it has had an impact on the implementation of ADP.

However, the cuts did not affect the LGED and road sectors, which received large allocations. However, as always, the important public health and education sectors are lagging behind in development.

On Sunday (November 24), IMED published the information on the implementation of the four-month ADP on its website. It can be seen that the implementation of ADP has been 7.90 percent in four months. The organization's website does not have information on the implementation of ADP less than this in the last period. In that light, it can be said that so few ADPs have been implemented in the last era.

In the last four months, Rs 21,978 crore has been deducted, which is the lowest since the 2017-18 financial year. In the last financial year 2023-24, 31 thousand 692 crore rupees were exempted during this time. Before that, in the fiscal year 2022-23, 32 thousand 358 crore rupees were exempted. 8 thousand 762 crore rupees were deducted in last October alone as a month. Whereas in the month of October of the previous financial year, 11 thousand 82 crore rupees were exempted.

According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, about one lakh crore taka may be cut from the annual development program (ADP) of the current financial year. Due to this, more necessary projects are being cut. Prioritization of projects is being done. The size of ADP for the current financial year is Tk 2 lakh 78 thousand 288 crores.

Secretary Abul Kashem of Planning Commission's Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED). Mohiuddin said that the concessions in development projects have been reduced. Verification of which project is more necessary and which one is less necessary is going on. Decisions will be taken after reviewing the projects.

Economists say that the country's economy is in crisis. There is a deficit in revenue collection. As a result, the government has to reduce spending. The budget for the current financial year has many opportunities to reduce wasteful expenditure. In this regard, the major area of ​​cost reduction before the interim government is the Annual Development Program (ADP).

Planning Commission officials say the implementation of the annual development program is currently in the initial stage. In this case, there will be no waste of money if ADP makes major cuts by excluding unnecessary expenses. There are 1,326 projects under ADP in the current financial year. Many of these are included in 2023 but no expenditure has been seen so far.

The former chief economist of the Dhaka office of the World Bank. Zahid Hossain said that political or questionable projects should be reconsidered. Because the government is in financial crisis, revenue collection is also deficient. The government should reduce spending. A major area of ​​cost reduction is ADP. Allocation should be given considering the importance of the project. It would be better to complete the mega projects which are progressing well. However, it would be better to exclude those mega projects which have not started or are in the initial stages.

In the first four months of the current financial year, the local government department has spent the most money of 5 thousand 280 crores. After that, the electricity department spent the highest amount, Tk 3 thousand 520 crores. Roads and highways department has spent 1 thousand 745 crores. Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is spending 1 thousand 285 crores. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has spent Tk 1,377 crore. However, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Law and Justice could not spend a single rupee.

During the period under discussion, the work speed of the most important public health services, health education and family welfare departments did not increase. These two departments spent the least among the big ministries. In four months, the health service department spent only 2.42 percent or 269 crore rupees. Apart from this, Health Education and Family Welfare Department has spent only 0.4 percent or 2 crore rupees. During this time, technical and madrasa education department spent 4.44 percent. Secondary and higher education department spent 6.79 percent.

MOS/KSR