Non-release of funds: Majority of development projects in doldrums

Finance division has only released 40 per cent of budgetary allocations for ICT administration in the current year.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration seems likely to miss deadlines for its development projects due to the finance division’s failure to release allocations on time.

The government, in the 2013-14 budget, had allocated Rs4.2 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to the ICT for ongoing and new projects, however, with the final quarter of the financial year under way, the finance division has only released 40 per cent of the funds. The May 15 deadline to complete the projects seems well out of reach, said an ICT official.

The source said that most of the development projects were related to the capital’s rural areas.

Ongoing projects

The ongoing projects include three water supply schemes with a total cost of Rs67 million, construction of a Rs36 million parking plaza in Bhara Kahu, improvement of Nilore Road at a cost for Rs23 million, and Rs30 million to set up a video conferencing hall for the district and sessions courts at a cost of million.

The official said that about 30 contractors have moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against non-payment of funds and the court has sought replies from the government. “The IHC will take up the matter again next week,” said the official.

A contractor said that they have moved the court after the ICT administration failed to clear their bills on time.

A senior official at the ITC administration, asking not to be named, said that some projects in 2012-13 were also not completed on time and they had also been deferred to the current year.

Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul admitted that the projects could not be completed in time.

He blamed the finance division, saying that ongoing projects could be completed, even if the funds were released now.

“We sent umpteen requests to the finance division to release the funds as a lump sum, but they are releasing them in instalments, which is causing delays,’’ he said.

New projects

The new development projects approved for the current year are also behind schedule.

The projects include the Rs58.3 million construction of police barracks in Sector G-13, sewerage treatment for  Police Lines in Sector H-11 at a cost of Rs59.1 million, rehabilitation of Serai Kharbooza Road at a cost of Rs50 million, street pavement in Shamas Colony for Rs49.9 million, construction of bridges in rural areas for Rs53.6 million, improvement of roads in Golra for Rs56.8 million, and installation of hand pumps in union councils for Rs48.9 million.

The construction of an agricultural complex at Tarlai union council for Rs49.9 million, upgradation of a water supply scheme in Shahdra, improvement of roads and streets in Golra, rehabilitation of a road in Pagh Panwal, water supply schemes in Sihala, Alipur and Nai Abadi and the construction of pavements in at least 26 villages remain underfunded.

Repeated attempts were made to contact Finance Ministry spokesman Rana Asad Amin, but he was not available for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2014.