Legislators have called on the government to fast-track the implementation of all projects for which funds have been allocated in the 2023-24 national budget.
Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Bader Al Tamimi said it was inexcusable to further delay schemes that have already received the green light.
He made the remarks while referring to the 2021 closing government financial statement, which revealed that only 62 per cent of planned projects were carried out that year. The ministries named in the statement included the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Housing and Urban Planning, Transportation and Telecommunications, and Health.
More than 50 mega projects worth millions of dinars are set to be rolled out this year and the next, giving a much-needed boost to the country’s development and infrastructure. The projects in the housing, education, health, digitalisation and artificial intelligence fields will also significantly improve the quality of services.
The schemes would cost a total of BD1.123 billion – of which BD608.6 million will be allotted this year and BD514.1m the next. The government will provide BD450m, divided equally in two years, while the rest of the funds – BD383.6m this year and BD289.1m next year – will be allotted from the GCC Development Programme.
Around 38pc of the budget would be spent on infrastructure projects, 33pc on housing and community facilities, 11pc on youth, sport, culture and information, 4pc on education, health and social services, and the remaining 13pc has been set aside for miscellaneous expenses.
The pending projects include Bahrain Metro, Sports City, developing Salman Industrial City, revamping Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), completing the fourth bridge between Muharraq and Manama, developing roads leading to the airport, constructing the new National Assembly and giving the media sector a facelift.
The budget was approved by Parliament and the Shura Council before being ratified by His Majesty King Hamad for immediate implementation.
“What we get are colourful and fascinating artist impressions while in reality half of the projects are dragged on for years,” claimed Mr Al Tamimi.
“It is good that the state wants to carry out vital projects; but when government officials come to us seeking financing for 10 projects, we expect them to do the 10 as intended,” he added.
“By law, if the allocated money is not spent within the intended year, it doesn’t get transferred to the next, even though it is based on calculations for two years. The closing statement as asked for auditors continues to remain for one year.”
Mr Al Tamimi, a former municipal council chairman, asserted that failure to implement any project was a ‘clear breach of the budget law’ and warranted parliamentary action.
“For example, when one road is not finished on time, a whole network is disrupted,” he said.
“Circumstances may delay a project, it happens. But when the average completion of work is 62pc, that’s a clear shortcoming that warrants parliamentary action.”
He alleged that some government officials were deliberately delaying projects to save money and win praise from the authorities.
“In 2021, the Works Ministry had saved around BD11m. I was a council chairman then and I remember receiving numerous replies to proposals for projects that there was no budget,” said Mr Al Tamimi. “When there is no accountability, shortcomings are seen as heroic efforts to save money, while they are not.”
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif claimed that numerous projects sought by councillors have been pending because each ministry lined up its own schemes without negotiating with the council.
“What is frustrating is that even projects listed without our input are not implemented,” he said.
“This is shameful as the amount returns to state coffers and remains there until it is allocated once again in the next state budget.
“There has to be a commitment to carry out projects or MPs need to step up and use their powers to take action against shortcomings being witnessed over several years.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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