Public works hostage to crony capitalism

The front page report in this newspaper on April 17 depicts the pitiable state of the development works taken up by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in 44 wards. It shows exactly how crony capitalism is working to waste public money and increase public sufferings. This grim picture, we are afraid, represents fairly well the state and quality of works in most of the wards under most city corporations.

It is a waste of taxpayers' money when various public works such as those related to roads and drainage system, are either carried out shabbily or left half done; and in some cases not done at all with time overrun of nearly a year. And why not! If there is no oversight of the works, if time overrun is rewarded with impunity, and if tenders are hogged by ruling party men who do not own any construction firm of their own but either sell their work order to the highest bidder or sub-contract the work.

Even if we were to accept the project director's statement that the tenders have been awarded as per rules, we wonder what action he has taken against the contractors for the inordinate delay in completion of the jobs, and what has been done to ensure that the work is being done as per the job specifications.

We believe the LGRD ministry must call to account the project directors of city corporations for the money spent on various projects and that somebody is made answerable for the quality of work. Why not involve the respective war commissioners to oversee the works? Public money cannot be frittered away and neither can public welfare and safety.