Rural road connectivity to receive upgrade with ADB assistance

Reading the above captioned news item in your issue of 31st May, my thoughts go back to the 1960s, when I was attached to the then Department of Public Works [PWD], where provision was available in the Printed Estimates for ‘Improvements to Ex-DRC. PRC and minor roads’. The responsibility of selecting and priority for improvements was in the hands of the Executive Engineers in their areas. However, this provision attracted politicians and they met the Minister for Transport, Public Works and Post to get priorities to their requests, to gain political popularity and some to please friends and relatives or himself. As I was handling this subject, I too participated in discussions at the Ministry, and it was decided to allocate a sum for each electorate and Members of Parliament requested to meet the Executive Engineers to submit estimates on their proposals. It will be surprising to know the allocation for each MP was Rs.10,000/ – and Rs.15,000/- for each Minister. What a ridiculous amount when compared to today’s value of currency? It will also be surprising to know, with these amounts, two to three miles of road could be widened, a mile metaled and tarred or few culverts built. MPs frequently visited the Ministry to meet the Minister with complaints of delays in sectioning of estimates or delays in carrying out work and I was called in to settle matters. Sometimes MPs met me direct as they were so keen, when work was delayed, they came to get a steam-roller sent to help the EE. I have had nasty experiences as well but looking back it was a pleasure to work under those circumstances. By the way, these works were undertaken by Road Overseers of the PWD and estimates prepared by EE. Any sub-standard work was rejected and the Overseer ordered to redo at his own expense. How efficient that arrangement of Road Overseers and today’s execution, I am unable to comment. The formation of the Civil Engineers Territorial Organization [CETO] which replaced the Road Overseer system, during the time of the Mahaveli Development Ministry, was a failure and today we have the Road Development Authority. How they would handle this US $ 200million is to be seen. With these allocations for infrastructure developments, the government should rethink whether it is wise to allocate funds to Members of Parliament, which is alleged to be misappropriated.

It will not be out of place to mention the Asian Development Bank a similar project where ADB had also been very kind in developing rural areas, thus enhancing the quality of life of rural folk which financed the Rural Electrification Scheme for which credit should be given to the then Minister for Power and Energy, and later the President, late D.B.Wijethunga who initiated action to approach ADB assistance and today 95% of villages are reported to have received electricity. Similar to the minor road project, ADB laid down a condition that only profitable, financially viable villages should be undertaken. A thorough survey was done by the Ceylon Electricity Board [CEB] and a list was prepared. This again attracted the politicians to have their requests given priority some of which were not productive, hence rejected. However, they contributed with their allocations under Decentralized Budget to have the work done. They were also very keen in displaying their names on the plaque which the CEB refused to meet from the provision. This expenditure, I understand, was met from the Decentralized Budget of the MP and the lettering approved by the CEB in keeping with the country’s policy. [ Fortunately, it is a ADB funded project and not Chinese where the lettering would be in large Chinese, Mandarin, and the rest, if at all, in small letters]

I have visited most of the minor roads developed and I have seen how those who carried their produce on their shoulders to the town for sale, now use tractors or small vans and children attending school travelling in tractors and bicycles. As for Rural Electrification, I have a very hilarious experience. Once, when I visited a village where Electricity was provided, I saw some using electric pumps to draw water from wells, a carpenter using electrical equipment. The one which amused me was when I entered a house, a senior schoolgirl was ironing her school uniform. Curiosity’s sake I asked her how she ironed her clothes earlier for which she replied she took them to Redi Nanda – Dhobi – or folded the uniform and kept, under her pillow, to be pressed. Of course, the burning electrical lights gave them enough light to study, rather than the kerosene oil lamp.

It is my earnest wish as one who had associated with projects uplifting life in rural areas, that the funds allocated will be utilized properly, for the wellbeing of the rural folk and make them stay in their villages without migrating to towns for employment, with the cooperation of politicians, in the same manner as done in 1960s, devoid of corruption and substandard work

G.A.D.Sirimal [SLAS]

Rtd. Assistant Secretary,

Ministry for Power and Energy & Highways