Power Div spots financial anomalies in project

The Power Division spotted irregularities in the allocation of Tk 6.23 crore for the supply and service sector in its project called Power Sector Capacity Development Programme.

The Power Division detected the irregularities when it was evaluating the sector-specific fund allocation proposal sent by the project for approval, an official said.

The proposal sought approval for Tk 17.86 crore in the annual expenditure for the 2011–2012 financial year.

The Power Division said that the proposal had shown expenditure of Tk 2.50 lakh for petrol and lubricant and Tk 1.0 lakh for vehicle repairs although there has been no provision for the project to maintain its own vehicle.

In addition, the proposal sought allocation of Tk 30 lakh in transport expenditure for a year which was found in excess during evaluation of the Power Division.

According to the evaluation report, the project could use two vehicles on a rental basis to carry its officials. 'But according to the budget in the proposal, the project should have seven to eight vehicles considering monthly expenditure for each vehicle Tk 30,000–Tk 35,000,' the evaluation said.

The proposal had sought for allocation of Tk 2.50 lakh for advertisement which was also found unnecessary for the project.

The evaluation report also found in excess the allocation of fund for a few more sectors of the project and remarked that it was not acceptable that the project fund would squandered away.

The proposal sought an

allocation of Tk 2.50 lakh for stationary items, Tk 2 lakh for refreshment, Tk 4.50 lakh for miscellaneous expenditure, Tk 2.50 lakh for computer and office repairs and Tk 1.50 lakh for other repairs and maintenance jobs.

The project's assistant director Faizul Amin, who is also a deputy secretary of the Power Division, brushed aside the allegation and said that there were no anomalies in the project's financial proposal.

Asked about the allegations being levelled against a wing within the Power Division during the evaluation, Faizul said that someone in the division might have been disappointed by the project official which led them to do so.

The evaluation report recommended that either the project officials should be asked about the details of the expenditure in the supply and service sector of the project or the project director should be informed of the matter as the director might not have notice the details of the expenditure proposal when he had singed it.

The Power Sector Capacity Development Programme was taken up to increase the efficiency of power sector officials in the public sector.

The project started functioning towards the end of 2010 although the approved duration of the project is June 2007–June 2012.

The approved project cost is Tk 46.33 crore, of which the government

will provide Tk 11.58 and the rest will be funded by the Asian Development Bank.

A project official said that 452 officials were trained in 2010 and 1,050 officials would be trained this year in 28 subjects.

Source : New Age

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