Focus on gas exploration
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday proposed the government give top priority to gas exploration to increase power.
In a pre-budget meet-the-press, first of its kind by any opposition party, Khaleda said the government has been talking of its “grandiose” plans for new electricity generation.
“But nothing has happened so far except for the recent initiatives for setting up rental power units, the procurement of which is being done in violation of established norms.”
Khaleda expressed concern that the high purchase price of power -- Tk 14-16 per unit -- from the rental plants will hike tariff for users, in the absence of substantial subsidies to the Power Development Board.
A broader impact will be on the profitability of industries, especially small and medium enterprises, said the leader of the opposition.
On an agreement with Russia on a 1,000MW nuclear power station, Khaleda said her party sees it as a long-term solution to the energy crisis. But she raised the safety issue in her speech.
She underscored coal extraction as an alternative to fixing the power crisis.
“Optimum use of our national reserves of coal for power generation should be ensured by expediting extraction of coal, albeit with appropriate measures for mitigating environmental hazards as well as rehabilitation and compensation of the affected people in the mining areas.”
SWIPE AT GOVT AND OTHER PROPOSALS
Khaleda's suggestions, which BNP called an 'alternative budget', came three days before Finance Minister AMA Muhith places the national budget for fiscal year 2010-11.
In her speech, the BNP chief came down hard on the government. She said there's been a continuous slide in every sector since the BNP-led alliance handed over power in 2006.
The nation is in a serious crisis due to incompetence, poor governance, corruption, politics of division, worsening energy crunch and declining law and order, she added.
The former premier observed the government has failed miserably to cure the maladies that have been hindering development.
She advised increasing allocation for the education sector and infrastructure development.
She proposed allocating Tk 200 crore for overseas training of university teachers and one percent of the industrial GDP for research on science and technology.
She said a technical training centre for teachers and a Tk 650 crore fund should be set up for research and training at the university level.
Besides, she added, funds should be allocated for measures to popularise science education at schools and colleges, and publishing learner-friendly science textbooks and developing audio-visual materials.
She also asked the government to launch a TV channel for school and university students.
Khaleda said zero-tariff on ICT equipment should continue.
For employment generation, she proposed channelling adequate resources into youth training centres.
Not only that, she said, the trained youths should be given easy access to loans and trade licences so they can start up businesses without much hassle.
The BNP chief said she wants the local governments to introduce stipends for the unemployed youths.
About social safety net, she suggested expanding the ongoing programmes and increasing the per capita allocation for the beneficiaries by 20 percent.
"I also propose that in the light of past experiences, targeting of beneficiaries should be improved, allocations for administrative costs increased and effective measures to rectify any leakages and corrupt practices in listing and distribution process should be taken."
In addition to old age allowance, she proposed, a contributory old age pension fund should be piloted. Under the scheme, individuals who have non-pensionable incomes will be able to open an account against their national ID cards and make periodic deposits there throughout their working life.
For entrepreneurs, Khaleda stressed the need for arranging business-oriented trainings.
She proposed increasing fertiliser subsidies, introducing agriculture insurance and drawing up strategic plans to face the challenges of climate change.
Political leaders, economists, professionals, businessmen, intellectuals, editors of national dailies and foreign diplomats were present at the press meet.
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