The authorities are in a dilemma over finalising the revised annual development programme (RADP) as public agencies have sought Tk 287 billion extra from internal resources, officials said on Saturday.
Earlier, project executing agencies sought Tk 90 billion lower from the Tk 600 billion external resources in the upcoming development budget for fiscal year (FY) 2018-19, they said.
According to the Planning Commission (PC), different ministries and divisions have sought Tk 1.41 trillion in the RADP against the current outlay of Tk 1.13 trillion in the original ADP.
But they have asked for some Tk 510 billion from external resources in the upcoming RADP against the current allocations of Tk 600 billion.
A senior PC official said, "They are in a dilemma as public agencies have sought higher Tk 1.92 trillion in the RADP against the Tk 1.73-trillion current outlay."
"The project implementers have sought much higher funds from internal resources as the money is easy to spend for flexible government monitoring," he told the FE wishing anonymity.
However, they have sought Tk 90 billion lower funds from the available external resources as the money is tightly monitored by the government and development partners.
The partners-World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the like-provide loans and grants for executing different projects under
the development budget every year.
After confirming foreign aid through deals, the PC allocates funds to development programmes against specific projects every year.
If the public agencies fail to spend the confirmed assistance, it balloons the unutilised foreign aid.
The government has to repay the loans with interest and other fees against the funds in the pipeline for not utilising on time.
The unutilised external funds in the pipeline now stands at over $30 billion-the money confirmed by development partners over the years for different projects and programmes.
Months ago, the PC started to revise the current Tk 1.73 trillion ADP amid weak project implementation than expected by ministries and divisions.
Official data showed public agencies spent Tk 591.50 billion, 34 per cent of the total Tk 1.73 trillion in the current ADP, from July 2018 to January 2019.
Another official said internal funds are in demand as some money will go to hundreds of projects hurriedly endorsed by the past government at the fag end of its tenure.
In the second half of every fiscal year, the PC revises the ADP aimed at streamlining project execution rate in the remaining period of the year.
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