Photo : Collected
It is nothing new that the funds of the government projects in the country are embezzled, while irregularities and mismanagement persist. The situation mirrors that of the 'Water Supply through Rainwater Conservation in Coastal Districts' project initiated in 2022 to address the freshwater crisis. Valued at thousands of crores of taka, the project is marred by embezzlement. Is this the inevitable fate of most government projects? It's disheartening and distressing.
The detailed report on this matter was featured prominently in the main headline a daily on Sunday. According to the report, the 'Water Supply through Rainwater Harvesting in Coastal Districts' project commenced in 2022 with a target completion date set for December 2025. However, instead of accelerating the pace of work to ensure proper project completion, the opposite has occurred. Numerous allegations of irregularities have surfaced, with many water tanks and taps already damaged due to overcharging of beneficiaries and the use of substandard materials. In many cases, influential and wealthy individuals are receiving freshwater conservation materials intended for poor families.
Moreover, the lack of maintenance and supervision has led to the deterioration of implemented parts, which are now being repurposed as cow sheds and poultry houses. Additionally, it has been observed that only 20 percent of the allocated budget has been utilised despite the removal of 80 percent of the bills. For instance, in Cox's Bazar, water tanks are being installed in 9,869 houses across 13 unions of four upazilas, with a budget of 40 crore taka. However, each beneficiary in the government sector has been charged two and a half to three thousand taka in the name of subsidy, far exceeding the government-prescribed amount. Approximately 1 crore taka have been unlawfully collected and misappropriated in this sector.
Furthermore, substandard materials such as low-quality bricks, sand, and insufficient cement have been used in the construction of tank platforms, mirroring a similar situation in other areas.
As we are aware, there are countless instances of government projects experiencing delays, cost overruns, and even abandonment before completion. It has become distressingly common for projects to expend significant sums of public money without achieving their intended objectives. The question arises: how much of the public's money is being wasted under the guise of project names? While stakeholders may exhibit excessive enthusiasm for new projects, their lack of interest in their implementation is both distressing and concerning. No one can evade responsibility in this matter. It is imperative to investigate why such occurrences are taking place in the implementation of projects and take measures against those responsible. Necessary steps must be taken to minimize the recurrence of such incidents as much as possible.
Because ending this deadlock is urgent. On one hand, people in various regions of the country, especially in the coastal districts, are struggling to collect rainwater for their daily needs. On the other hand, some individuals are taking advantage of the vulnerability of others for personal gain. This is unacceptable. Our expectation is that government projects truly serve the people, meaning they achieve their intended goals. It is especially important to ensure that ongoing rainwater conservation projects achieve their appropriate objectives and address all irregularities and corruption involved. That's what we want.
Messenger/Fameema
