Editorial
Anything new in the ADP?
Typically a pre-election year programme
The Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2012-13 with a projected outlay of Tk 550 billion has been announced with the least of fanfare. It could not be a big deal because of the burden of carry-over projects it has had to contend with.
Of the total number of 1037 projects some 1007 have been ongoing. 720 unapproved projects with a lump allocation of Tk 19 billion have also been adopted. Some large projects have been put under PPP and Tk 3 billion has been allocated to kick-start the Padma bridge project.
In terms of the size, the 'new' ADP is higher by Tk 140 billion than the revised ADP of the outgoing year at Tk 410 billion. It is claimed that higher demand for funding various projects has pushed up the projected allocation. This catering to higher demand sounds contradictory when you consider oft-discussed underutilisation of allocated funds in the various ministries. So we are led to deduce that the higher allocations have had a good deal to do with the election approaching. Now there are the electoral pledges which the planning secretary has adduced to that requiring attention and then there is the shoring up of electoral prospects through lump-sum allocations.
The order of priorities runs like this: power, communications, infrastructure, education, health and religious affairs. Sectoral allocations apart, lump allocation of Tk 19.38 billion for unapproved projects; Tk 15.17 billion for supporting local level development activities by city corporations, district councils and union parishada; and 17.4 billion for handling emergency have earmarked.
There are three overarching points to be made: first, development expenditure ought to be made on purely economic considerations. Secondly, given the cutback on development partner's contribution to the budget in the outgoing fiscal, is it realistic to rely on 61 percent domestic to 39 percent external infusion of resources? Last but not least, ADP implementation from the very word go would have to pick up, gather momentum and end up meeting both the financial as well as physical targets.
Implementation remains the issue. It is good to note that a committee headed by the finance minister would ensure intervention where needed in the processes of ADP implementation. We have had committees galore; we hope this one will stand out and be effective.
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