Twin sectors to be prioritised in next ADP
Rejaul Karim Byron
The government will increase allocations for power and transport sectors by 82 percent in the next fiscal year, mainly to bear the costs of Padma Bridge construction and new power plants.
The transport sector will get the highest allocation followed by education and power in the next annual development programme (ADP), according to a draft proposal by the planning ministry.
The transport sector is expected to see a 78 percent rise to reach Tk 6,903 crore, up from Tk 3,878 crore in the revised ADP of the current fiscal year.
The government has set aside a block allocation of Tk 1,000 crore for river dredging, an area it prioritised for the first time.
Planning ministry officials said the draft has almost been finalised and will be placed at the National Economic Council meeting at the end of this month.
According to the draft proposal, the size of the upcoming ADP will be of Tk 38,500 crore.
Local components will provide Tk 23,200 crore or 60 percent of the ADP outlay and project aids the rest Tk 15,300 crore.
The revised ADP for the current fiscal year was of Tk 28,500 crore, while the original size was Tk 30,500.
The ministry officials said the government plans to add around 9,500 megawatt of electricity to the national grid by 2015.
Rental power plants will provide 1,000MW-1,200MW, while the rest will come from government plants.
The allocation for the power sector will increase if the ministry can use all the funds, the planning ministry officials said.
Power ministry officials said the government would take steps in the next fiscal year to set up a dozen of power plants that will generate around 4,000MW.
The construction of the Padma Bridge will cost Tk 16,800 crore and the government plans to complete the construction by 2013.
Communica-tion ministry officials said the bridge will get Tk 1,500 crore to Tk 2,000 crore in the next fiscal year.
Farm sector may get Tk 1,981 crore, up from Tk 1,801 crore in the revised ADP of the current fiscal year.
The government may increase allocation for education sector to Tk 4,919 crore from Tk 4,400 crore in the current fiscal year.
Health sector may get Tk 3,493 crore, which was Tk 2,981 crore in the revised ADP of the current fiscal year.
However, energy sector will see a cut, as it will get Tk 853 crore as against Tk 1,030 crore in the revised budget.
daily star
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