The New Nation - Internet Edition

The prevailing practices of the government on the use of budget allocations have been reviewed by Advisers' Committee on Government. Purchases. The committee noted the dilatory process through which relevant government agencies obtain actual release of fund for purchase of inputs for development works. The concerned Ministries can release a sum of twenty-five crore Taka from the budgeted amount without referring to the Ministry of Finance. Any further deal of purchase is to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for clearance.

So long the Ministry of Finance used to review the proposals for allocation of money from development budget and give clearance for the same. The time needed for release of fund turned quite long, during which the prices of inputs including building materials went up. Some development projects could not be completed on time due to this. The decision of the Advisers' Committee to raise the limit of authority of concerned Ministries and Departments plus subordinate offices, from Taka twenty-five crore to Taka fifty crore sounds pragmatic. Due to the implementation of projects on time, even the use of local and foreign consultants may be rationalised.

The ultimate upturn in the cost of inputs for development projects plus the payment of fees for local and foreign consultants usually affect the process of implementation on time. The Finance Adviser of the incumbent Caretaker government who presided over the Advissrs' Committee meeting referred to the increase in the limit of allocation and urged all official agencies to implement development projects on time. The prevailing procedures, including the delays in the release of fund for implementation of development projects, may hopefully be removed in the coming months.