Lump sum allocation in 34 projects despite minister's no

Lump sum allocation in various sectors without specifying expenditures creates chance of corruption, expert say.

They said money should be allocated in sectors on basis of what amount of products are needed in a project, which amount of money it will cost, how many labourers it needs, their wages and so on.

Planning Minister M A Mannan has not asked for lump sum allocation in the projects under his ministry but it has been kept in 34 projects.  

Allocation of money in aggregate has been kept in eight sectors of excel load control center installation project in source of goods transport on the important highways under Roads and Highways Department of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry.

Out of the allocation, Tk 20 lakh on the account of campaign and advertisement, Tk 15 lakh for stamp and seal, Tk 20 lakh for honurium, Tk 10 lakh for printing and binding, Tk 54.53 crore for consultancy, Tk 65 lakh for removing trees, Tk 7.45 crore for utility shifting and Tk 20 lakh for other expenses.   

Not only in this project, money has been allocated in total in most of the projects without specifying costs in products or services. As a result, the concerned can spend money from the allotment. 

Minister Mannan at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on October 29 last year said that money no longer would be allocated in lump sum form following irregularity-corruption surfaced in different projects of the government.

At that time, he said, "Lump sum allocation in projects would not be allowed. No lump sum for hospitality, trip, purchase etc.".

Six Ecnec meetings were held till December 31 after the minister's words and a total of 44 projects got nod. But aggregate allocation has been kept in as many as 369 sectors of 34 projects.

When Jago News on January 1 asked him about his words 'No lump sum in project would be allowed', he refused, saying, "Possibly I said lump sum allocation in project would be discouraged". 

The Planning Minister claimed that such allocation decreased than that previous and it will take time for completely end of the long standing culture. 

Jago News analyzed his claim and found no reality as lump sum allocation has been made in 369 sectors of 34 projects after his words.

Regarding this, M A Mannan said secretaries bring the projects at the last stage of final approval. So he is trying to make them understand to see lump sum matters well.

The minister said efforts are on to completely exclude the matter of lump sum.

About this, World Bank former lead economist Dr Zahid Hossain told Jago News that counting precisely the expenditures in a project is possible but there is negligence. 

Such ambiguity or allocation of money in lump sum is kept intentionally as part of committing corruption.

"But it is unfortunate that it was not corrected despite minister asked to do so. Lump sum should be stopped," he added. 

The WB former lead economist has also seen flaws of officials concerned of project evaluation committee (PEC) of Planning Ministry besides proposal making ministry/division/directorate in money allocation in aggregate amount.

Zahid also said planning commission cannot avoid this responsibility as it was bestowed for check and balance of lump sum allocation.

Why costs is not specified during feasibility test of project, Zahid raised questioned.